By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — This past Friday was the American Heart Association’s 10th Annual Wear Red Day, held each year as part of the Go Red for Women movement, to raise awareness about women and heart disease. On that day, companies and organizations all over the country wear red and donate funds to the American Heart Association.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox
Some of the employees at Caribou’s Pines Health Center who wore red in honor of the American Heart Association’s 10th Annual Wear Red Day were, front row, from left, Sasha Shaw, Alma Argraves, DeDe Cyr, Lisa Caron, Yvette Seaman and Penny Wickstrom; second row, Tony Lahey, Brian Martin, Paige LaPlante, Becca Bowmaster, Alli Charette, Morgan Meyers and Tracey Levesque; third row, Heather Martin, Nicole Farley, Kaley Bourgoin and JayLynn Sheldon; fourth row, Lisa Michaud, JoAnne Nadeau and Lindsay Burlock.
Statistics show that heart disease is the number one killer of women and is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. One in three women, an estimated 43 million, die each year from heart disease.
According to the American Heart Association, the Go Red movement has been successful in motivating nearly 90 percent of women to make at least one healthy behavior change. More than 50 percent have increased their exercise and six out of 10 have changed their diets. One-third have talked with their doctors about developing heart-health plans.
Several companies throughout our local area participated in Wear Red Day. Brenda Vitali of the Maine branch of the American Heart Association advised that last year’s event raised $21,500 and 212 companies statewide participated. This year over 100 companies signed up to participate, and, according to Vitali, many companies who did not officially sign up generally also participate and send in funds.
The Go Red for Women movement is a yearlong campaign. Those interested can visit GoRedForWomen.org, or may visit their Facebook page, to learn more.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox
Caribou’s F.A. Peabody manager Troy Heald and customer service associates Diane DuMont, left, and Angel Kearly wore red for The American Heart Association’s 10th Annual Wear Red Day on Friday. FAPCO also provided the Caribou office with a fruit platter in honor of the day and its mission to raise awareness about healthier choices that can be made to combat heart disease.
