Wearing RED for Heart Health

Faculty, staff and students in the College of Sciences proudly wore Red apparel on February 7th in honor of the American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day. This philanthropic effort, also known as “Go Red for Women”, puts emphasis on the awareness of cardiovascular disease in women, and helps raise money to continue on life-saving cardiovascular research.

Although cardiovascular disease is the number-one cause of death for women, strides in research, including efforts through UCF’s Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, are allowing for a realistic promise of cure. Through success in research, 34% fewer women now die from cardiovascular disease, and more women are revolutionizing their health by developing healthy lifestyles.

“Go Red for Women” works to empower women in taking ownership of their health by providing the tools needed to lead a healthy lifestyle. The most fundamental effort in revolutionizing one’s health is honing in on where the change is most impactful: the individual. Go Red for Women provides essential tips and how-to’s in making a healthy lifestyle easily attainable; all it takes is a few small nutritional changes and you’re on your way to a happier, healthier life!

This national event may only be marked as one day each year, but philanthropic efforts of Go Red for Women, as well as intensive research and information awareness of The American Heart Association make this a year-round cause.

Donna Oppenheim, Office Assistant in Academic and Student Affairs for the College of Sciences, participated,  “I wore red to show my support for the American Heart Association and their dedication to us all.  I wore red as a symbol of the memory for loved ones and friends who lost their lives, and for those that suffered, but beat the odds of heart attacks or strokes.  I wore red because I am also a survivor…..” .

To learn more about Go Red for Women and how to become involved, visit www.goredforwomen.org.