Go Blue Goes Red: For your heart, your health and the women you love

Learn about heart health and heart disease prevention at the Go Blue Goes Red luncheon on Friday, February 7, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the University Center, Kochoff Hall. The Commission for Women, the UM-Dearborn Staff Senate, UM-Dearborn Human Resources and the Women’s Resource Center have teamed up to bring this event back to campus.

Dr. Elizabeth Jackson, associate professor of medicine and director of the Women’s Heart Program at the University of Michigan Health Center, will be the featured speaker. Jackson has lectured extensively on women’s health and cardiovascular prevention. She is a reviewer for several cardiovascular and internal medicine journals and a specialty editor for the American Journal of Medicine.

The event also will include a heart-healthy lunch and, as in years past, will include a Go Red fashion show (featuring faculty, staff and student models). Men’s clothing will be provided by J.C. Penney and women’s fashions will be provided by Dress Barn. There will be door prizes, a 50-50 raffle and a tin can raffle.

Ticket prices for Go Blue Goes Red are $10 in advance, $15 at the door, so reserve your ticket today. Tickets can be purchased in advance from:

AB: Ginny Zarras
CASL: Belinda Soliz, Lori Petrick, and Dorothea Williams
FCN:  Trisha Schlaff
FCS: Liz Morden
HPEC: Deidre Berry
ML:  Barbara Bolek and Lavada Smith
UC: Linda Southward and Shareia Carter
SSB: Ann Phillips

Proceeds from this event will be donated to the American Heart Association. Should inclement weather close the campus on February 7, the event will move to Friday, February 14.

MHealthy invites everyone to participate in health screenings that will be available on Tuesday, February 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Kochoff B and C. To encourage employee participation, MHealthy will be giving away 3 FitBits employee activity and wellness monitors in a special drawing. Registration for the screening can be found on the MHealthy website.

February 7 is National Wear Red Day to bring attention to heart disease, the number one killer of women. Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined, according to the American Heart Association’s website.

“Cardiovascular Disease is still the leading cause of death in Michigan for men and women; 34% of all deaths in Michigan”, according to Tara Tomcsik-Husak, corporate events director with the American Heart Association. “The American Heart Association is working toward a goal to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular disease and stroke by 20 percent by the year 2020. This is no easy task, and we cannot do it alone. Events like the Go Blue Goes Red event help us to raise awareness and in return, save lives.” For more information about heart disease and heart disease prevention visit the American Heart Association website.

A future related event is planned
The University of Michigan will be participating in the 2014 Washtenaw Heart Walk and 5K Run on Saturday, May 10 at Eastern Michigan University, according to Tomcsik-Husak. Anyone interested in participating in this walk/run can register (under the University of Michigan-Dearborn) and find out more information by clicking here.