Greeks raise awareness about women’s heart disease

University of South Dakota women involved in the Alpha Phi sorority are encouraging students and faculty to get involved in their fifth annual “Go Red Week” this week.

“Go Red Week” is dedicated to raising money and awareness for both women’s heart disease and the Alpha Phi Foundation, an organization that funds scholarships for members and provides money for researching heart disease.

Junior Kaitlyn Stern said the week helps benefit both the women of Alpha Phi and the Vermillion community.

“(Women’s Heart Health) is so important to us, because it’s the number one killer of women in North America,” Stern said.

According to the American Heart Association, women’s heart disease causes one in three deaths each year.

Over the course of the week, Alpha Phi is having an event every day in the Muenster University Center, and each is designed to raise awareness and money for the charity. About 130 Alpha Phi members are participating in the events.

Sophomore Vanessa Rise helped organize a Zumba-thon in the MUC ballroom Monday night, and she said she is happy to be able to help the Vermillion community affected by women’s heart disease.

“I know this event means a lot to my sisters, and it’s so great that we can help the community out and really bring awareness to this issue,” Rise said.

The philanthropy event included a blood drive Tuesday, and on Wednesday, also known as Cardiac Arrest Day, Greek presidents and faculty will be “arrested and caged” in the MUC Pit Lounge. Students can bail out the “prisoners” by donating money. After raising $100, the imprisoned will be freed.

Sophomore Delaney Clark is assisting with Wednesday’s event, and said the philanthropy and community service opportunities Alpha Phi offers its members was one of the reasons she chose to join the sorority.

“It’s really awesome that Alpha Phi chose women’s heart health, because I think it’s pretty awesome that we’re raising awareness for this issue, and it’s near and dear to my heart,” Clark said.

Some Alpha Phi members’ families have dealt with deaths concerning this disease, making this issue hit closer to home, Clark said.

Thursday, Hoops for Hearts will be set up in the MUC Pit Lounge. For $1, students will have the opportunity to shoot five baskets from different places within a minute. If students make all five baskets within the time frame, they win a prize.

The week ends with Friday — health day. Alpha Phi members will be handing out healthy treats and information packets about heart health in the MUC.

Stern said the week is recognized nationally among Alpha Phi chapters.

“Each chapter of Alpha Phi across the U.S. and Canada do a “Go Red Week” with different events. Some campuses, for example, do pageants. Each chapter does events that cater to their own campuses,” Stern said. “Most events during ‘Go Red Week’ raise heart health awareness on our campus.”

For sophomore Samantha Foley, vice president of marketing for Alpha Phi, the issue of women’s heart disease strikes a chord on a personal level.

“My grandma died (due to her) heart health, so it really hits close to home,” Foley said. “Hopefully raising awareness helps prevent someone else from losing someone they love.”

(Photo: Members of the Alpha Phi sorority table in the Muenster University Center Tuesday for “Go Red Week.” Submitted photo / The Volante)