LEWISTON – National Wear Red Day supports the red dress as the symbol for women and heart disease awareness. On the first Friday in February each year, women and men across the country can unite in the national movement to give women a personal and urgent wake-up call about their risk of heart disease.

Community members can participate in the life-saving awareness movement by showing off a favorite red dress, shirt or tie on Friday, Feb. 4. They can also participate in numerous events being hosted by St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center that day. Visit the St. Mary’s Web site, www.stmarysmaine.com, or contact the numbers below for more information.

Heart-healthy style

Wear Red Fashion Show, “Because Heart Health is Always in Style”: On Friday, Feb. 4, local cardiologist Dr. Dervilla McCann will host a Wear Red Fashion Show beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Lepage Conference Center at St. Mary’s, 99 Campus Ave.

Attendees will have heart-healthy hors d’oeuvres and wine, education on women’s heart health and a style show modeled by area physicians. Physician models include Kit Gardner, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist; Inga Johannesson, internist; Renee Lewis, MD, obstetrician/gynecologist; McCann; Amy Parker, MD, emergency room physician; Amber Pena, MD, internist; Barbara Smith-Foy, certified nurse midwife; and Diane Wallace, MD, emergency room physician.

Tickets are $20 a person and can be purchased by calling 777-8808.

Heart-healthy community

Free Take Charge! Community Health Risk Screening: Take Charge!, a community health risk screening program, will be offered free to community members on Friday, Feb. 4. The screening, a $175 value, identifies health risks and promotes healthy lifestyles to residents of Androscoggin County.

The program takes about 40 minutes and involves answering 18 to 20 questions, providing a finger-stick blood sample and breathing into a machine. At the end of the process, a medical professional will discuss the screening results and participants will receive recommendations and an individualized written report.

Sessions will be held in the Lepage Conference Center at St. Mary’s. The normal $25 charge for the screening will be waived for the Feb. 4 screening only. Appointments are available between 8 and 10:30 a.m. so reserve a space by calling 777-8898.

Heart-healthy food

“The New Language of Eating” Luncheon Presentation: Cardiologist Dr. Dervilla McCann will provide an introduction to the new language of eating with emphasis on the facts and the fads behind fats. The presentation will be accompanied by a heart-healthy meal. The luncheon will be held at the Lepage Conference Center at St. Mary’s from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 4. Cost of $5 includes the meal. Preregistration is required by calling 777-8759.

Heart-healthy students

Holy Cross Elementary, McMahon Elementary and Renaissance School Campaign: St. Mary’s is partnered with several area elementary schools to offer a special campaign for students, parents and teachers on the importance of heart health for women.

Students and teachers will participate in various classroom activities promoting heart health and will be encouraged to wear red on Friday, Feb. 4. If a son or daughter attends one of these schools, parents will receive information on the activities planned or call 777-8263 for details.

Heart-healthy employees

Sisters of Charity Health System Employee and Volunteer Campaign: The 2,000 employees and 275 volunteers at Sisters of Charity Health System (including St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, d’Youville Pavilion Long-Term Care Facility, Campus Cuisine, Community Clinical Services, Good Shepherd Food Pantry, Lots to Gardens, Maison Marcotte, Renaissance and Genesis Houses and Renaissance School) are encouraged to wear red on Friday, Feb. 4.

By wearing red, staff and volunteers show their support for raising awareness of heart disease risk for women. Campus Cuisine, the on-site meal service provider to the health system, will offer a heart-healthy special that day and provide meal recipes for those who are interested.

Throughout February, employees will hear about ways to keep their hearts healthy and how to take an active role in helping raise awareness of heart disease in women. If an employee or volunteer at Sisters of Charity Health System would like more information on the Wear Red campaign, watch for information in the employee newsletter or call 777-8808.