February is Heart Month, and WHHI is proud to join with women around the country to raise awareness for such an important health issue. Today, cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death for women in Canada. One in four women die of heart disease in Canada every year. Such facts are sobering and indicative of the fact that more needs to be done to halt the progression of this deadly disease. Public awareness campaigns like Heart Month are fantastic opportunities to educate, spread awareness, and fundraise.

Heart Month has swelled from its humble beginnings to become a national campaign that encourages Canadians to rally together in the fight against heart disease. Throughout February, thousands of community volunteers will canvass for donations that support life-saving research. Thanks to Canadians’ generous support and participation, heart month continues to make progress every year. Significant advancements have been made over the last decade, including the development of gender-specific prevention and treatment plans, increased funding for heart health research, and improved screening programs, but more needs to be done. Research and education are the keys to fighting this disease; with every dollar, more lives are saved.

So how can you help? We invite you to take part in the WHHI and Royal Victoria Hospital’s ‘Wear Red Day’ and have some fashionable fun while you fundraise. Everyone is invited to dress in red to show their support for the cause and make a donation. And of course, Canadians everywhere are invited to partake in the national discussion about heart disease and bring some much needed awareness to the realities of this health threat. It is time to engage one another around this issue, and empower women to take charge of their heart health.