Carolyn House Stewart, International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated explains that, "Heart disease is still the number one killer of women, taking the life of one in three women each year, and this is especially important for 'black' women, who are at increased risk due to factors such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity and diabetes."

For this reason, the ladies of the Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter of Freeport Grand Bahama Island have partnered with Dr. Winston Forbes, local Cardiologist and the Grand Bahama Heart Association, to support the efforts of the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women® movement to celebrate in their endeavors as a handful of Grand Bahamian women proudly participated in the National Wear Red Day®, this past Friday, February 4, 2012.

"The sole mission of National Wear Red Day® was to raise awareness in the fight against heart disease in women," shares Kimberley Kemp, President of the Sorority's local chapter. "In order to be true members of this heart disease awareness campaign we needed our partners such as Dr. Forbes and the Grand Bahama Heart Association, who raise awareness and fight this vicious disease every month, every day in every year," concluded Kemp.

Dr. Forbes' message of 'A beautiful heart is more important than a pretty face or a fine figure. Therefore I would like to challenge all women to take personal attention to their heart,' was fastened to 104 red delicious apples; the number signifying the sorority's age; were wrapped in plastic wrap with pink and green curling ribbons and distributed by the sorority members, along with four volunteers, to mostly women at noon on the corner of Royal Bank of Canada, downtown. "Cardiovascular disease is disease of the heart and blood vessels and remains the number one killer in The Bahamas, in men and women," highlights Forbes. "Women are conditioned at a young age to be concerned about breast and cervical cancer...but most women are unaware of their blood pressure, their fasting blood glucose, and their good and bad cholesterol, which are cornerstone risk factors for cardiovascular disease," stated Forbes. "I would like to challenge the women to take personal attention to their heart health, especially in terms of prevention and challenge the men to flip the script and make sure the women in their lives seek appropriate preventive measures."

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"February is Heart Disease Awareness Month," expressed Deborah Archer, President of the Grand Bahama Heart Disease Association. "Our goal is to remind the public, especially our women, that together we can fight heart disease and help save the special women in our lives, including ourselves. The women of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority are all wearing their Red Dress Pins, and although these ladies normally wear the colours pink and green, we thank them for going red, by wearing red, as they help our efforts to raise awareness against this dreadful disease," ended Archer.

Since 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated has been dedicated to serving all mankind. Awareness, advocacy and action are the primary vehicles for the worldwide delivery of their service initiatives. The health initiatives of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated encourage personal fitness and healthy life styles. We support organizations which advance access to treatment and coordinate awareness and advocacy campaigns to reduce health disparities, save lives and impact health related legislation. For more information, please contact the President of the Pi Upsilon Omega Chapter, Kimberley Kemp @ 242.727.0299.