USA: Celebrities hit the runway in red dresses to help combat heart disease

Record ID: 1529828

  • Title: USA: Celebrities hit the runway in red dresses to help combat heart disease
  • Date: 14th February 2009
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 13) (REUTERS) (CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY) BACKSTAGE AT RED DRESS EVENT ACTRESS HILARY DUFF SEEN IN CAMERA MONITOR ACTRESS HILARY DUFF TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS HILARY DUFF SAYING: "I think it's important to raise awareness and let people know. I was shocked to find out that heart disease is the number one killer of women. To get the word out there to start taking care of yourself early, I think is important." ACTRESS JENNIE GARTH GETTING MAKEUP DONE ACTRESS NIA LONG GETTING HAIR DONE BACKSTAGE AT RED DRESS EVENT ACTRESS NATASHA HENSTRIDGE DRESSED IN VERRIER TALKING TO REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS NATASHA HENSTRIDGE SAYING: "My grandmother had quadruple bypass surgery when she was in her late 60s. My father is on cholesterol pills. I mean it just affects everybody on so many levels." ACTRESS DAISY FUENTES POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS ACTRESS DAISY FUENTES SHOWING OFF HER DRESS DESIGNED BY PAMELLA ROLAND (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ACTRESS DAISY FUENTES SAYING: "It's an honor for me to be here today and I think it's a very important cause more than anything because of the message it sends to women. For me personally, it made me aware that heart disease is the number one killer among women - more than cancer and I think it's an important message for women that we are all at risk and that we have to take care of our health and that we can all do something to prevent it." VIVICA A. FOX DRESSED IN JENNY PACKHAM POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) VIVICA A. FOX SAYING: "That's the main thing I want to tell the girls. Just have a good time today. Throw it away. Your friends are here to support you. You know, there's going to be a couple people judging you but of course. But overall, just have a good time." CAMERACREWS SHOOTING STARS ON THE RED CARPET ACTRESS JENNIE GARTH DRESSED IN BADGLEY MISCHKA POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS LYNDA CARTER SAYING: "You know, this is about us being together, being for one another. You know going out there all of us getting make-overs, all of us having our hair done and dresses put on and talking about our health."
  • Embargoed: 1st March 2009 13:55
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment,Health
  • Reuters ID: LVA1HANOVYHJMUWRYTIAQT00VHGV
  • Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  • Story Text: Celebrities strut their stuff on the catwalk and team up with designer to help in the fight against heart disease.
    They primped, they primed and they pouted - all in the name of a good cause. The female stars of film and television who strutted down the runway in New York on Friday (February 13) ranged in age but shared two things in common. They were all wearing red dresses and they could all be victims one day of the disease that kills more women than any other - heart disease.
    The annual Heart's Truth fashion show teams designers up with celebrities to showcase a collection of one-of-a-kind red dresses and to raise awareness about the number one killer among women.
    "I think it's important to raise awareness and let people know." said actress Hilary Duff, who was wearing Donna Karan. "I was shocked to find out that heart disease is the number one killer of women. To get the word out there to start taking care of yourself early, I think is important."
    According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), one in four women dies of heart disease. For actress Natasha Henstridge, heart disease is more than a statistic.

    "My grandmother had quadruple bypass surgery when she was in her late 60s. My father is on cholesterol pills. I mean it just affects everybody on so many levels," she said.
    It was the lack of information on how fatal heart disease can be, that made many of the celebrities decide to get involved.
    "For me personally, it made me aware that heart disease is the number one killer among women - more than cancer and I think it's an important message for women that we are all at risk and that we have to take care of our health and that we can all do something to prevent it," said actress Daisy Fuentes.
    The NHLBI suggests the following to combat the disease: no smoking, exercise, eat healthy and get your blood checked for cholesterol, blood pressure and blood glucose frequently.
    While increasing awareness was the number one reason for participating, several celebrities also stressed the importance of having good ol' fun.
    "That's the main thing I want to tell the girls. Just have a good time today. Throw it away," said Vivica A. Fox who strutted like a lioness on the runway. "Your friends are here to support you. You know, there's going to be a couple people judging you but of course. But overall, just have a good time."
    Lynda Carter best known for her role as Wonderwoman also felt the girl power.
    "You know, this is about us being together, being for one another," she said. "You know going out there all of us getting make-overs, all of us having our hair done and dresses put on and talking about our health."
    The red dresses will be auctioned off through www.clothesoffourback.com and will be on display at Rockefeller Center's Top of the Rock Observation Deck from February 14 through February 21.
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