"Go Red" Luncheon a Success, Despite Snow

Today's "Go Red for Women" American Heart Association fundraiser was threatened by bad roads, but women in red flocked to the Abilene Civic Center despite the snow.

Guest speakers included a heart disease survivor, doctor, and "healthcare humorist" comedian Diana Jordan.

The event, sponsored by Abilene Regional Medical Center, included free health screenings for women.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States.  A woman who suffers from a heart rhythm disorder called SVT encouraged participants to "know their numbers," including cholesterol, blood pressure, weight and measurements in order to be aware of their risk of heart disease.

The luncheon featured a silent auction of donated purses filled with items that reflected their personalities.  Contributors include Rep. Randy Neugebauer, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, and the Abilene High Eagles.  That purse included championship gear and an autographed football.  Each purse auctioned off for hundreds of dollars.

KRBC also had a booth at the event with giveaways as part of its "Heartbeat" campaign, with a demonstration of online heart health resources, local stories of survivors, and profiles on the latest technology at Abilene Regional Medical Center to help combat heart disease.