Go Red for Women

By staff reports

LIMA — Women, wear red Monday and head down to the Civic Center.

The Lima Symphony Orchestra is sponsoring a Go Red for Women photograph Monday at Veterans Civic Center, a campaign to help with awareness of heart disease in women.

Elizabeth Brown, director of marketing for the Lima Symphony Orchestra, said this year's photo is the second taken in recent years. The American Heart Association sponsored a photo in the past, but the loss of the agency's local office left a gap in getting this photo taken.

“No one had been doing anything with the Go Red campaign in Lima, so the symphony decided it would be a nice tie-in,” Brown said.

The photo also relates to the symphony's next concert, “The Romance of Spring,” on Feb. 18. That concert is underwritten by St. Rita's Medical Center and Lima Memorial Hospital.

“I don't think most people realize that heart-related disease are the No. 1 cause of death in American women,” Brown said. “I think that people forget how susceptible women are to heart disease. It's something we felt that was important to help get the word out.”

The photo is good attention-grabber, Brown said.

“I think it's a real visual representation. When you see everybody there in their red dress it really catches your eye,” she said. “And then you take the time to actually learn more.”

Last year's photo was rather last minute. The group is trying to increase the number of women in the photo this year. Female participants are asked to wear true, solid red — not burgundy, and not patterned. Red from head to toe is great, but black below the waist is acceptable. Gather at 5 p.m., and photographer Michael J. Ayers will take the photo at 5:15 p.m. It should only take a few minutes, Brown said.

If you can't make it to the local photo shoot, National Wear Red Day is Friday.