Lawrence groups to have special events for Friday’s National Wear Red Day

Those serving on the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women Luncheon committee are, from left, front row, Ginger Wilkins, Janice Early-Weas, Dena Johnston and Debbie Toms; second row, Kirsten Flory, Jamayla Long, Megan Poindexter, Amy Gilliland, Jana Flory, and Jessie Kwatamdia; third row, Betty Markley, Becca Booth, Michelle Fales, Jessica Wollesen, Tina Correa, Deborah Kurtz and Debra Thompson. They have been meeting since the fall to plan the Feb. 12 luncheon in Lawrence, which will raise money for the association.

Men AND women are encouraged to sport red on Friday, Feb. 5, to raise awareness that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the United States.

According to the American Heart Assn., one in 3 women die of heart disease or stroke, compared to one in 30 from breast cancer.

Several Lawrence organizations and businesses will be raising awareness and money that day for the American Heart Assn. Among them:

JOIN THE CAUSE

We want to see you wearing red.

On National Wear Red Day — Feb. 5, send your pictures by Twitter using the #KSGoRED hashtag or post them on our LJWorld.com Facebook page, and you will be automatically entered to win a Headlines Salon gift certificate.

We also will feature a photo gallery on Facebook and LJWorld.com’s health section.

Of course, it’s about raising awareness of heart disease — the No. 1 killer of women in America.

• Headlines Salon, Nail Expressions and Endless Summer Tan will be offering discounted services and donating the money. They are located in the shopping area near 23rd and Louisiana streets.

• First State Bank & Trust, 3901 W. Sixth St., is having a souper bowl cookoff from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. For $5, people can have soup, vote and register for prizes.

• Haskell Indian Nations University will be having a mini-expo from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Coffin Sports Complex, where free information will be displayed and there will be giveaways. Among those participating: Lawrence Memorial Hospital and Kansas University Medical Center.

Also, the women’s and men’s basketball games, which tipoff at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., respectively, will feature Wear Red Day activities. These include a halftime shoot-a-thon and pie-in-the-face contest.

The culmination of Wear Red Day events is a Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, Feb. 12. Details are:

• 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at The Oread, 1200 Oread Ave.

• Speaker: Lisa Gard, an emergency physician at LMH.

• Activities include: silent auction, and blood pressure and cholesterol screenings.

• $50 per person.

• To purchase tickets or for more information, Call 913-652-1911.

Here’s another piece of data: About every minute one woman dies from cardiovascular disease. That’s about the time it took to read this story.