A few weeks ago, I received what I considered to be one of the most important emails of my life. And although this sounds very dramatic and overdone, I am being honest when I say that. I was asked by the St. Louis Chapter for the American Heart Association to be a Go Red Blogger, and work with them to help spread awareness and prevention tips for heart health and wellness. Being as how my father died of congestive heart failure and heart disease in 2012, and my uncle died of the same thing in 2005, and their mother, my grandmother, died of a stroke very early in her life, heart health is of the utmost importance to me. I owe it family and myself to help educate others about heart health, and being a part of this ambassador program is a way I can give back to a cause that has touched my life in so many ways.
My first “assignment” as a Go Red Blogger is to let you guys know about Go Red for Women Wear Red Day, which is on Friday, February 7th, 2014. I urge each and every one of you to wear the color red to show your support of heart health. Heart disease is the number one killer of women, so wearing red is not only a symbol, but brings awareness and attention to something that is an epidemic. This is the 11th year for National Wear Red Day.
For the past 4 years, I have been sporting my red on Wear Red Day. Now I ask that you do the same too, and share your photos online via social media. You can tag your photos with #GOREDSTL and #SHOWUSYOURRED. You can be creative, too! Maybe you don’t have anything red—you can’t paint your nails red, wear red lipstick or a red accessory. Fellas, you can also get into the act by showcasing your red. Ball caps, ties, even your red car can be a symbol for Wear Red Day. Tweet, FB, and Instagram those pics using the hashtags provided.
During the next few months, I will be writing about all types of topics related to heart health, heart disease prevention and detection, and so much more. If you have any questions about heart disease or heart health, please let me know and I will make sure I get an answer for you.
As a blogger, I get to do a lot of exciting things. But all of that means nothing if I am not able to give back to causes and organizations that I feel strongly about. I want to thank Madelyn and the St. Louis Chapter for the American Heart Association for bestowing me with the honor. It is a privilege to work with you as well as the other two bloggers (Makeba from MelissaSource.com and Brandy for LoveBeMade.com) selected for this wonderful opportunity.
For more information, please visit GoRedforWomen.org (here).
Disclaimer: As a Go Red Blogger, I am not being paid for my ambassadorship.
I am all decked out in Red today too! I have a small gift basket company based in Chicago and we are donating 10% of all February sales to the American Heart Association! Let’s all spread the word together!