Plattsburgh, NY - The Foundation of CVPH team will be decked out in red on Friday, February 6 to raise awareness about heart disease in the North Country and they are inviting other organizations to join them.

“We hope the community will join us on February 6 for National Wear Red Day by making a donation and wearing red to spread the word about heart disease and the importance of knowing symptoms, risk factors and lifestyle changes. It’s also a fun way to kick off National Heart Month and help support the care of cardiology patients here in the North Country,” explained Michelle Senecal, Foundation manager of events and special projects.

Cardiac disease is the leading cause of death in women and many of those deaths, according to the American Heart Association, can be prevented through greater awareness about cardiovascular health, symptoms, risk factors and lifestyle changes.

Employees of participating businesses and organizations will wear red on National Wear Red Day, Friday, February 6, and donate $5 each to CVPH’s Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab project - $1.3 million initiative underway to build a larger space on the main campus to house CVPH’s successful Cardiac Rehabilitation Program and add a similar service for pulmonary patients.

Cardiac Rehabilitation is a supervised exercise, education and support program focused on returning patients who have had a heart attack, valve replacement, angioplasty or bypass surgery to their optimum level of health. Similarly, Pulmonary Rehabilitation provides patients with chronic lung conditions an individualized program to help them breathe better, build endurance and improve the quality of their life. Education, support and supervised exercise are also key components of Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

The Wear Red fundraising event sets the stage for the Foundation of CVPH’s Stepping Out for Your Heart which takes place Thursday, February 26 at the West Side Ballroom. Registration opens at 5 pm. The evening of education and fun includes a presentation, “The Heart and its Care Close to Home,” by Cardiologists Drs. Joel Wolkowicz and Eric Gauthier, inspiring survivor stories, a heart-healthy dinner, interactive wellness sessions, live and silent auctions. Proceeds will also benefit the CVPH Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Project.  Tickets are $65 each with a $10 discount for senior citizens.

For more information about Wear Red, Stepping Out for Your Heart, or to make a donation to the CVPH Cardiac & Pulmonary Rehab Project, call Senecal at (518) 314-3359, or email msenecal@cvph.org. Learn more at UVMHealth.org/CVPHHeart.