Fashion goes red for a cause

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Jordan Kessler, Staff writer

Feb. 1 marked the 2019 National Go Red Day. Red Day is celebrated on the first Friday in February each year, representing support for women’s heart health. More than 500,000 women die of heart disease each year, so the Mercyhurst Fashion Council wanted to help spread awareness about this silent killer.

This campuswide movement was started by the Mercyhurst Fashion department, more specifically, the Mercyhurst Fashion Council.

The Fashion department used social media such as Facebook and Twitter to spread the news of the event.

On the Twitter page, the Fashion Council used a very empowering statement: “Join us for a women’s empowerment event to demonstrate that there is nothing women cannot do, cannot face and cannot overcome when they stand together!”

Senior Fashion Merchandising major Alexa Crusciel hosted the event.

“As president of the Fashion Council, I worked with my adviser, Ashlee Rzyczycki, and the rest of the e-board members to host an event for Go Red For Women,” Crusciel said.

They organized the Day in Red and held an event in Old Main 312 at 3 p.m. They had a speaker, blood pressure screenings and healthy snacks. Students and faculty from all over campus came together to support the wear red cause.

“It was a really positive atmosphere for all of us to get together in support of one another to become more educated on such a heavy topic,” Crusciel said.

National Wear Red Day started in 2004 by the American Heart Association and has since become a nationally known day of awareness.

With Valentine’s Day as a popular February holiday, the entire month is focused on the heart. It only fits in that National Wear Red Day would be in the beginning of the month.

“The event was important because I personally know people who have been affected by heart disease,” Rzyczycki, , the Fashion Council adviser, said.

The event welcomed everyone and focused on how heart disease affects so many people around the world.

“Everyone has their own story, and if I can help one student become aware, that’s a win for me,” Rzyczycki said.

Rzyczycki incorporated fashion into the lives of faculty around campus as well by encouraging participation in an event called “Dress Down for a Cause,” which is a fundraiser that provides money for certain charities throughout the year. This time, the donations went to the American Heart Association.

Additionally, the Mercyhurst Fashion Council made a promotional video for the event called “I Go Red Because … .” This video featured several students and faculty members in the Fashion department. Each person gave a different reason why they went red for the day.

“It started off as a fun initiative, but turned into something impactful,” Rzyczycki said.

The video was shown at the event and can be viewed at the Mercyhurst Fashion Twitter page as part of their promotion for the day.

For more information on Go Red For Women Day, visit the American Heart Association’s page, www.goredforwomen.org.