Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America. Using the simple phrase “Love Your Heart,” the Go Red For Women movement is mobilizing women, men, celebrities, healthcare providers and politicians to embrace and elevate the cause of women and heart disease.

With this in mind, the members of the Lehigh Valley Mall Teen Board took to the runway on Saturday, February 7th in support of the American Heart Associations and the Go Red For Women campaign. Working with merchants in the mall, Macy’s and volunteers from Sacred Heart Hopsital, they staged a full runway fashion show featuring “red” clothing or outfits which contained some element of red in them.

The show was well attended attracting over four hundred and fifty in attendance for this event. In addition, the American Heart Association of the Lehigh Valley provided a variety of information booths in its quest to turn the mall red and educate women about heart disease

One might think that teens and heart disease do not go hand in hand. Age, however, can be deceiving. In an information session with the Heart Association staff, the Teen Board learned about heart-related incidents at age 35 and younger. And in fact, that a former member of our program, while in her teens, had been effected by heart disease.

The more thoughtfully you protect your heart, starting as early as your teens, the less likely you’ll face the life-threatening challenges posed by cardiovascular disease. No matter what your age or where you feel you are in your life, the best time to take action and get healthy is always right now.

From jogging with your friends, to swapping healthy recipes, to keeping up with loved ones and learning your family history, your heart health depends on a life-long commitment. As always, the first way for you, as a woman, to Go Red is to take good care of yourself every day. Because when you do, your life can be as beautiful as you are yourself!

See photos from the show, click here