Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. On Friday, February 6, “National Wear Red Day,” people and landmarks across the country will turn red to raise awareness about the leading cause of death in women.
Here in New York, the World Trade Center, NYC City Hall, Kosciuszko Bridge, Grand Central Terminal – Pershing Square Viaduct, MTA LIRR Penn Station – East End Gateway, Moynihan Train Hall, the Helmsley Building, the Winter Garden Pavilion and palm trees at Brookfield Place, One Manhattan West, and the Mario Cuomo Bridge (just north of the city) are just a few of the landmarks that will be illuminated in red.
The American Heart Association (AHA), dedicated to changing the future toward a world of healthier lives for all, works to raise awareness that heart disease and stroke can occur at any age and that nearly 45% of women over the age of 20 live with some form of cardiovascular disease.
On “National Wear Red Day,” the AHA encourages everyone to join the Go Red for Women® movement to promote better health and well-being for all women by wearing red and spreading the word.
You can join the conversation online by sharing on social media with the hashtags #WearRedDay, #WearRedAndGive and #GoRedforWomen.
Survivor Class
The American Heart Association in New York will also announce its NYC Survivor Class of 2026.
“The ‘2026 Class of Survivors’ represents a diverse sisterhood sharing their powerful stories to raise awareness about heart disease and stroke and inspire other women to take steps to improve their health and well-being,” said Cristina Civetta, congenital heart disease survivor, founder of the New York City Survivors Class and, along with her husband, Ed Scheetz, class sponsor.
Among the members of the class are:
Ann Cutbill Lenane (heart disease),
Annie Reardon (stroke),
Sonali Bhavsar (heart disease),
Artrisa Morris (heart disease),
Irina Wierzbowski (heart disease and stroke),
Jessica Falco (heart disease),
Mariuxi Penafiel (stroke),
Kiani Morisi (heart disease),
Erica Shaw (stroke),
Samantha Bessudo Drucker (heart disease),
Megan Fath (stroke),
Whitney Sica (stroke),
Irene Gofaone Rowland (heart disease),
Tania Saiz (stroke) and
Phaleya Burnside (heart disease).
Go Red for Women
The American Heart Association’s “Go Red for Women” movement, sponsored nationally by CVS Health and locally by Northwell Health and JPMorgan Chase, urges women to take bold steps today for a healthier tomorrow.
This year, “Red Means Go” is a call to action to be proactive about cardiovascular health, using the color red as a symbol of awareness and urgency.
– Act, know your numbers:
Maintaining healthy blood pressure, blood glucose, total cholesterol, and body mass index can reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
– Take action, join Research Goes Red to ensure that more women are represented and taken into account in scientific research:
Women continue to be underrepresented in cardiovascular research.
– Take action, learn Hands-Only CPR and acquire the knowledge necessary to save a life:
Women are less likely to receive bystander CPR.
«National Wear Red Day is more than the beginning of Heart Month in the United States; “This is about us all coming together to support the health and well-being of our mothers, daughters, sisters and the people who love them,” said Allison Beer, Executive Director of Cards and Connected Commerce at JPMorgan Chase and volunteer chair of Go Red for Women in New York City for 2025-2026.
“When we come together, like our New York City Survivor Class of 2026, we are stronger against cardiovascular disease. “Together we can ensure that all women have the same opportunities to live longer, healthier lives.”
Find resources to support heart health for women at all ages and stages of life at GoRedforWomen.org and learn more about “National Wear Red Day” at WearRedDay.org.
For more information about the Go Red for Women movement in New York, contact or visit www.heart.org/nycgored.
