University News
Go Red Luncheon at WIU is Feb. 7
January 24, 2014
MACOMB, IL – February is Heart Health Month, and Friday, Feb. 7 is National Wear Red Day for Women's Heart Health sponsored by the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women organization.
The Western Illinois University Women's Center, in collaboration with Beu Health Center, Campus Recreation and the Employee Wellness Committee, is sponsoring the fifth annual Go Red Luncheon with speakers, a campus and community resource table fair and door prizes. Resource tables will be provided by the following WIU organizations and community agencies: Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center, Beu/Students T.A.L.K., Campus Recreation, Employee Wellness, Eta Sigma Gamma, Hy-Vee, McDonough District Hospital, McDonough County Health Department, Student Health Advisory Committee and the Women's Center.
The luncheon will be held in the Multicultural Center, first floor Activity Room, from noon-12:50 p.m. and the resource fair will run from 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m. in the Multicultural Center Multipurpose Room, according to Women's Center Director Janine Cavicchia.
"The cost of the meal is $10 for non-students and $6 for students," Cavicchia said. "We hope the reduced cost for students will encourage more WIU students to attend this year's event."
Reservations and payment (cash or check) are due by Friday, Jan. 31 to the Women's Center. Checks may be made payable to the Women's Center.
The luncheon will feature heart-healthy food catered by the Macomb Hy-Vee store. This year's menu will consist of seasoned chicken breast with quinoa (or spinach lasagna as a vegetarian option), salad with dressing, and angel food cake with red berry topping.
Hy-Vee nutritionist, Jennifer Soucie, a member of the advisory board for the WIU Department of Dietetics, Fashion Merchandising and Hospitality, will speak during the event about, "What is So Special in Aisle 11."
"National Wear Red Day is a great opportunity to educate the community about the importance of heart health," said JoAnn Hairston-Jones, health education coordinator at Beu Health Center. "Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. Heart attacks, strokes and other cardiovascular diseases kill more U.S. women than the next five causes of death combined, so holding such an event can help educate women and others about the risk factors — diabetes, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and triglycerides, being overweight and smoking cigarettes — and help us all take an active role in preventing heart disease."
Hairston-Jones added that hypertension is becoming more common among younger adults.
"Its prevalence increases with lifestyle factors and genetics and can adversely affect heart health," she said.
This year's featured event speaker will be Beu Health Center/Alcohol and Other Drug Resource Center Administrator Vivian Coeur, whose talk is titled, "It's All in the Interpretation."
"We are please to have Vivian share her personal story about heart health," said Hairston-Jones. "Vivian has just completed a cardio rehabilitation program as a result of a recent heart event. She has a message about her experience, what she has learned, as well as her journey with making lifestyle changes. She wants to encourage others — at all ages — to consider steps to heart health.
Members of the Go Red Planning Committee, including Women's Center Graduate Assistant Colleen Brian Savage and Women's Center Women's Health Outreach Student Assistant RaQuira Welch, along with Beu Health Education Graduate Assistant Brook Beasley will staff an information and resource table from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 28 in the University Union Concourse. The table will feature handouts and women's heart health books that can be checked out from the Women's Center Collection in the Multicultural Center Resource Library.
"As part of the promotion of Go Red, everyone is encouraged to wear red on Feb. 7, and please pass this along to students, colleagues and friends," Hairston-Jones added.
For more information, contact Hairston-Jones at (309) 298-3225, or at J-Hairston-Jones@wiu.edu; Cavicchia at (309) 298-2242 or at J-Cavicchia@wiu.edu or Judy Yeast at (309) 298-1670 or at JA-Yeast@wiu.edu
Learn more about the American Heart Association's National Wear Red Day event at www.GoRedforWomen.org.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
Office of University Communications & Marketing
Connect with us: