Ladies in red

Women wore red to raise money and awareness about heart disease on Friday, a disease that kills nearly half a million women every year.

Hundreds of women attended the 5th Annual Red Dress Luncheon at the Wilmington Hilton. Red dresses from local celebrities were on display including Governor Beverly Perdue, Chelsey Cooley, Miss USA 2005, and our very own Ann McAdams.

Representative Becky Carney of Mecklenburg County was the keynote speaker. Just last year, Carney suffered sudden cardiac death while in her legislative office in Raleigh and was miraculously revived thanks to a defibrillator.

She stressed the need for women to know the risk factors for heart disease, and take care of themselves. “To educate ourselves as women and then advocate, that is so important. Educate then advocate. We are the spokes people for what really is going on with our bodies, and we need to speak up more.”

The event is part of Heart Disease Awareness Month.

Proceeds will be used to fund outreach activities and free screenings to help identify women with risk factors so they can get the care they need to stay healthy.