On a mission to educate woman about cardiovascular disease, Halifax Regional is making a big push for the community to “Go Red” on Friday, which is National Wear Red Day.

Halifax Regional is participating in this national health observance to bring awareness to the Roanoke Valley about the impact and affects of heart disease in women.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.

The myth still prevails that heart disease is a man’s disease and that cancer is a bigger threat to women’s health.

In order to bring more attention to cardiovascular disease in women and educate them on heart health, Halifax Regional staff will wear red on Friday and decorate the main lobby with a sea of red balloons.

To culminate National Wear Red Day Halifax Regional is encouraging the community to get involved with the movement and wear red. Additionally, Halifax Regional will offer several engaging and educational activities that are open to everyone in the community. A host of “Go Red” activities will include:

Giving out women’s heart health material in the main lobby and cafeteria.

A special “Go Red” heart-healthy menu in the cafeteria.

Handing out free red dress stickers to visitors in the main lobby (quantity limited) from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. and noon-1:00 p.m.

A short 5-minute video in the medical library. Red apples will be available to offer viewers a healthy snack.

Playing a power point about women’s heart disease awareness in the main lobby.

Decorating the main lobby with a bouquet of red balloons.

The American Heart Association launched National Wear Red Day in 2003 to bring attention to cardiovascular disease, which claimed the lives of nearly 500,000 American women each year.

In 2004, the AHA created Go Red for Women to educate women on heart disease, help women come together to show their support, and increase funding for heart disease research and treatments for those in need.