Go Red For Women(R) Hosts Casting Call to Beat No. 1 Killer of Women With Celebrity Supporter Andie MacDowell

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Women face choices every day. Some choices aren't important, while others are life changing. Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in the U.S., yet research shows that eighty percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women make the right choices for their hearts, involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking. That's why on February 6, 2009, National Wear Red Day, the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women(R) movement is launching a nationwide search for women who have turned their personal choices into life-saving actions. Actress Andie MacDowell will help kick off the search at the second annual national casting call at New York City's Grand Central Terminal.

Go Red For Women is looking for compelling stories of choice to help ignite action and inspire others. Women who share their stories have the chance to become spokeswomen - representing the cause on GoRedForWomen.org, in media appearances, advertising, billboards, at events and possibly in a nationally televised special on women and heart disease, airing on NBC in the fall of 2009.

"As I celebrate life, I can't help but think how young my mom was when she died of a heart attack at 53. My mom didn't get to meet her grandchildren, but I'm determined to watch mine grow up," said Andie MacDowell, actress and Go Red For Women supporter. "Right now, one in three women die of heart disease, but we can choose to beat it, using the tools and support provided by Go Red For Women."

The Importance of Heart-Healthy Choices

"Choosing to ignore your heart health may not seem life changing today, but more women die of cardiovascular disease than the next five causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer," said Jennifer H. Mieres, M.D., Go Red For Women spokeswoman and director of Nuclear Cardiology at New York University. "Heart disease is largely preventable if women choose to act, and our research shows that women who 'Go Red' are very likely to make new potentially life-saving choices."

Alarming heart health statistics include:
-- Cardiovascular disease kills more than 450,000 women each year, which
is about one every minute.
-- Only 1 in 5 women believe that heart disease is her greatest health
threat.
-- Sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease
have no previous symptoms.

Casting Call Information

The New York City casting call event will be held on February 6, 2009, in Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall(R). Auditions will be held from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST. Highlights include:

-- Appearance by Andie MacDowell, Go Red For Women celebrity supporter
-- Expert stylists from Macy's showing women how to 'Go Red' with the
latest makeup and accessories
-- Complimentary health screenings provided by Merck & Co. Screenings
will include: total cholesterol, blood pressure, and Body Mass Index
(BMI), allowing women to learn their critical health numbers.
-- Display of the red dress design finalists from the Macy's and American
Heart Association Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) Red Dress
Competition
-- Opportunity to support Go Red For Women and take the Go Red Heart
CheckUp
-- Exclusive Go Red giveaways and more!


In addition to the national event in New York City, local Go Red For Women casting calls will be hosted in more than 50 other cities across the country. For more details on local events or to submit your story online, go to GoRedForWomen.org.

Choose to Wear Red on National Wear Red Day

The casting call is not the only way for women to show support for Go Red For Women. On February 6, 2009, women across the country are encouraged to wear red - whether it is a red dress, a red t-shirt, a red dress pin or red lipstick. Join thousands of other women, television personalities, news anchors and even national monuments, like the Empire State Building, to show the world you passionately support the American Heart Association's movement to save women's lives.

To thank you for your support, Macy's is offering an all-day in-store savings throughout the store from Wednesday, Feb. 4 through Sunday, Feb. 8 to shoppers wearing red. Shoppers not wearing red will be able to purchase a red dress pin for $2 and receive the savings. Macy's will donate 100% of the pin proceeds to Go Red For Women.

For more information about Go Red For Women, the casting call or National Wear Red Day, please visit www.GoRedForWomen.org.

Go Red For Women is nationally sponsored by Macy's and Merck & Co., Inc.

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