Go Red For Women on National Wear Red Day

North Florida Regional Medical Center Plans a Ribbon of Red around Duck Pond

February 2, 2010, Gainesville, FL –  North Florida Regional Medical Center (NFRMC) will participate in National Wear Red Day on February 5, 2010 and will make a signature statement for this important event that is part of the continuing fight against heart disease.  That signature statement will include painting a ribbon of red around the Duck Pond near the hospital main entrance on Newberry Road in Gainesville, Florida.

“It is our pleasure to join with the American Heart Association and help get as much attention as possible for this year’s Wear Red Day,” says NFRMC Chief Operating Officer Matt Davis.  “Thousands of people drive into or past our campus each and every day.  On Wear Red Day and the days just before and after, we want those people to see red and think about the number one health concern for women in this country and in our community.  That concern is heart disease.”

Essential Painting, Inc. (EPI) will begin painting the ground around the Duck Pond red in advance of Wear Red Day.  “Our goal is to complete the painting shortly before Wear Red Day,” says EPI President Andrew Schneider.  “North Florida Regional and the American Heart Association want as many people as possible to see the red, hear the message and decide to participate, so we need to have our work finished in advance.” 

The paint to be used for the project contains no volatile organic compounds, is fumeless and will fade naturally in the days that follow Wear Red Day on February 5. 
Weather permitting, the painting will begin at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 3.  If workers are not able to complete painting that day, they will continue painting on the afternoon of Thursday February 4. 

“Our assignment is to make this ribbon of red something you cannot miss, and that is what we will do,” says NFRMC Plant Operations Director Bob Harmon, who is guiding the painting work.  “This is for a great cause, and we take the work seriously.  Anything we can do to increase awareness about heart disease is more than worth the effort.”

NFRMC’s support for National Wear Red Day will be seen inside the hospital, as well.  Staff across the campus plan to wear red as much as possible, and the hospital’s cafeteria will have a special all-red menu on February 5.  Visitors and staff will have the following choices as they dine on Wear Red Day:  Red Pepper Chicken; Red Snapper Pontchartrain; Grill Feature of Red Onions & Roast Beef; Red Beets; Red Beans; Red Potatoes; Red Tomatoes with Okra; Red Pepper Gouda Bisque Soup; Red Cabbage Asian Salad; Red Velvet Cake.

“We put as much care as we could into menu items that include the color red and – when possible – to be heart healthy,” says Michael Cejka, Director of Food & Nutrition Services at NFRMC.  “Our staff is enthusiastic about this menu, and we’re having fun with it.  We will also be putting red table cloths on our tables, serving our red menu on red plates, wearing red as we serve and anything else we can think of to help with this event.”

“We are just one of many organizations who will be going all out to help make Wear Red Day a success in our community,” Matt Davis says.  “We are glad to be working together with others and encourage all members of our community to wear red on Friday February 5.  People can choose to go red in whatever way works best for them and help spread the Go Red for Women message.  Heart disease is the Number 1 killer of women.  Someday, we hope to change that, and increasing awareness is the place to start.”  

NOTE TO MEDIA:  If you are interested in photography/videography during painting the Duck Pond perimeter or in other Wear Red Day activities, please contact the NFRMC Marketing Department at 352-333-4970.  Information about National Wear Red Day in the community is available from the local American Heart Association office at 888-352-3824 ext 8168.

About North Florida Regional Medical Center:
North Florida Regional is a 325-bed, full-service medical and surgical acute care center serving 14 counties and offering comprehensive cardiovascular care, oncology, orthopedics, neurosciences, weight loss surgery and treatment,  women’s health and wound therapy, among other services.  A proven leader, North Florida Regional Medical Center is fully accredited and is certified as a Primary Stroke Center by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organization.  North Florida Regional Medical Center’s cancer program is designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, as well as a Commission on Cancer-Approved Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons.  North Florida Regional Medical Center is a member of Hospital Corporation of America (HCA).  Based in Nashville, Tennessee, HCA remains the nation’s leading provider of healthcare services, composed of locally managed facilities that include approximately 166 hospitals and 112 outpatient centers in 20 states and England.