Area women invited to New York fashion show

Department of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Jewell Mullen at the kickoff for the 'Follow the Fifty' campaign in Windham County. Photo by D. Coffey.

Windham County “Follow the Fifty” models and campaign partners have been invited to attend the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show in New York City on Feb. 6. The show is a New York Fashion Week kickoff event. It features famous fashion designers, celebrities and models, while at the same time drawing attention to heart health awareness for women.

The symbol of the red dress has been used since 2002 by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to educate women about the prevalence of heart disease. It is the number-one killer of women in the United States. The red dress reminds women of the need to protect their heart health and inspires them to take action.

According to FTF Program Manager Linda Colangelo, national partners extended the invitation so the women could share their stories at the national launch of the 2013 Heart Truth Campaign. The show will be held at the Hammerstein Ballroom at the Manhattan Center in New York City.

In February 2012, the Northeast District Department of Health received a $100,000 grant from the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health to implement The Heart Truth, a women’s heart health awareness and action campaign in Windham County. Together with the HealthQuest Northeast Connecticut coalition, NDDH designed a nine-month long initiative that recruited 185 women to lead heart-healthy lifestyles, and 130 women completed the campaign.