MEDIA ALERT - Canadian designers and stars hit the runway tonight to share "The Heart Truth"

Heart and Stroke Foundation's fifth anniversary celebrity fashion show highlighted women's heart health

TORONTO, March 8, 2012 /CNW/ - Canadian celebrities and top fashion designers joined forces tonight on International Women's Day to raise awareness about women's risk for heart disease and stroke at the fifth anniversary of The Heart Truth Fashion Show.

A-listers from television, film, music, sports and media strutted the catwalk modeling one-of-a-kind red dresses by some of Canada's most talented fashion designers to deliver this lifesaving message to Canadian women: it's time to protect your heart health.

"The truth is heart disease and stroke is the number one killer of women in Canada¹, more than all cancers combined," says Bobbe Wood, president, Heart and Stroke Foundation. "We are calling on women to put their own health first. Women often put their family's health before their own, but it's critical for women to make their own health a priority so that they can live full and healthy lives and be there to take care of their loved ones."

Print quality photos and broadcast quality video are available of the following Canadian celebrities on the runway at tonight's show:

Shannon Tweed wearing Arthur Mendonca, Gene Simmons wearing Indochino, Jully Black wearing Lauren Bagliore, Divine Brown wearing Freda, Jessi Cruickshank wearing Adrian Wu, Liza Fromer wearing Mallia, Natasha Gargiulo wearing MICALLA, Isabelle Maréchal wearing Anne De Shalla, Angie Seth wearing Thien Le, Ali Liebert wearing Momo, Lisa Ray wearing Farley Chatto, Gabrielle Rose wearing Something Blue, Lauren Lee Smith wearing Ines De Santo, Jessica Steen wearing Joeffer Caoc, Tamara Taylor wearing Mark Belford, Pascale Hutton wearing Paul Hardy, Susan Haskell wearing David Dixon and Catriona Le May Doan wearing LOVAS.

High res images and broadcast quality video from the runway and of Shane Koyczan's spoken word opening performance is available for download as of 10 PM ET, Thursday, Mar 8 at http://thehearttruth.ca/category/media-room/.

About The Heart Truth™ campaign
The Heart and Stroke Foundation's The Heart Truth campaign (www.thehearttruth.ca) is raising awareness that heart disease and stroke is the #1 killer of women in Canada, but most don't know it. Heart disease is not a "man's disease": women are more likely than men to die of a heart attack or stroke. But by taking care of themselves and making incremental heart healthy lifestyle changes, women can add more years to their life and more life to their years. In fact, women can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke by as much as 80 per cent by making lifestyle changes².

The Heart Truth campaign gratefully acknowledges the support of founding sponsor, Becel, and contributing sponsors Post Shredded Wheat, Chatelaine, and Health Check™, without whom the program would not be possible.

About The Heart and Stroke Foundation™
The Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca), a volunteer-based health charity, leads in eliminating heart disease and stroke and reducing their impact through the advancement of research and its application, the promotion of healthy living, and advocacy.

Sources:

1. Investing in Canada's Future 2003-2004, Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), 2004
2. How to make sure the beat goes on protecting a woman's heart, Johnson PA, Manson JE -Circulation, 2005; 111: e 28-33

Image with caption: "Mrs. Laureen Harper, Bobbe Wood, President of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Jessi Cruickshank at the 2012 The Heart Truth Fashion Show. (CNW Group/HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120308_C2285_PHOTO_EN_10983.jpg

For further information:

For more information on lifestyle changes women can make to reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke visit www.thehearttruth.ca. For more information or interviews, contact:

Edelman 
(on behalf of the Heart and Stroke Foundation)
416.979.1120
[e-mail], [e-mail], [e-mail]
604.623.3007
[e-mail], [e-mail]