Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial to Host Seventh National Day of Dance for Your Health

Newaygo County and Area Residents Will Fall in Love with Their Health Through An Event Aimed at Creating Healthier Communities

Spectrum Health Gerber Memorial (SHGM) invites our community, along with more than 70 other communities across the US, to the National Day of Dance for Your Health on Saturday, February 26, 2011. Spirit of Women Hospitals across the country have been joining together to take a stand against heart disease for nearly a decade through Day of Dance.

Taking place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 26, this year’s theme for Day of Dance is “Lucky 7 – Don’t Gamble on Your Health”. The event will include dancing (zumba, swing, hip-hop, even “the hustle” and others), prominent physician speakers, FREE health screenings (blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, hearing, and posture/back health), There’ll be heart healthy snacks, performances by our local PRIDE team, and other activities to remind participants that preventing cardiovascular disease and a healthy lifestyle can be a fun and energizing experience.

Over 600 residents attended Day of Dance 2010 and a bigger crowd is expected to get involved in this year’s event. Nationwide, more than 75,000 people are expected to dance for their health on Saturday, February 26, in the hopes of creating healthier communities.

“Day of Dance not only increases awareness of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, but inspires immediate action for better health. This program has resulted in thousands of people in our community being exposed to the powerful concept that good health can be just a dance away,” said SHGM’s Brenda Dulaney-Connell, RN, MSN, Spirit of Women Coordinator.

Coronary heart disease, which causes heart attacks, is the single leading cause of death for American women. Many women believe that cancer is the number one cause of death, but they’re wrong. Nearly twice as many women in the US die of heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular diseases than from all forms of cancer, including breast cancer.

Day of Dance for Your Health takes place during Heart Health Awareness Month and participants are encouraged to wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness. The Red Dress® is the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness and was created by The Heart Truth® to deliver an urgent wakeup call to American women. Red shoes are always a welcome sight at Day of Dance as well!

Plan to join SHGM at Newaygo Middle School for Day of Dance 2011-you can pre-register for the event online at www.gerberhospital.org or register at the door the day of the event. For more information, you can call 231.924.7139 and speak with our Day of Dance Coordinator.