Queen of Hearts

By Candy

You heart February. V-Day, Heart Disease Awareness and Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week rolled into one month … what’s not to love?

And you were in absolute awe as a loyal heart disease supporter (you told your sorority to don red threads on Wear Red Day) and devout fashionista (hello, fashion club president) when two of these elements came together to reveal The Heart Truth show two weeks ago during fashion week in NYC.

A part of the Red Dress Project, this campaign has been a federal initiative led by the first lady, Laura Bush, for the past four years to raise awareness about heart disease. Famous faces like Kelly Rippa, Laura Hutton and Angela Bassett all strutted down the catwalk modeling gorgeous red gowns designed by Carolina Herrera, Donna Karen and Douglas Hannat (to name a few).

Mrs. Bush, The Heart Truth ambassador herself, has been leading the Federal government’s effort to give women an urgent wake-up call about the risk of heart disease. She notes, “Like many women, I assumed heart disease was a man’s disease and cancer was what we would fear most. Yet heart disease kills more women in our country than all forms of cancer combined. When it comes to heart disease, education, prevention and even a little red dress can save lives.”

Stirring the Red Dress Project into such a publicly acclaimed fashion event allows Mrs. Bush to reach millions of women every year with information that can help them live longer, healthier lives. She’s an advocator of personal outreach and that effort to spread knowledge of this life threatening disease is making a difference.

Now that’s something to be passionate about.