By: Marie Riou
In support of the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa, MasterCard Worldwide has announced that it will be presenting the inaugural Go Red for Women – Little Red Dress initiative – to be showcased at the MasterCard Style in the City event taking place in Cape Town from today to 1 November 2009.
Go Red for Women presented by MasterCard will see eight sought-after South African designers each creating their own unique beautiful red dress, which will be worn on the runway by eight well-known South African female personalities, magazine editors and businesswomen.
The exclusive red dresses will be presented at the opening gala dinner of MasterCard Style in the City today:
All eight dresses will be on auction toning. There will be a reserved minimum bid for each dress and all proceeds raised will benefit The Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.
The dresses will then be put on display for the duration of MasterCard Style in the City to give all attendees an opportunity to view the beautiful designs, and how much was raised for the Foundation.
Go Red for Women about heart health
“The Go Red for Women initiative, symbolised by the little red dress, is an important platform for us to bring home the message of heart health to women in South Africa. Our collaboration with MasterCard will enable us to get our message across in a way that is close to women’s hearts: fashion,” says Ashleigh Kuttner, Programme Director: Projects, Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa.
The initiative specifically aims to raise awareness of the risk of heart disease and strokes – which are the number-one killer of women worldwide. It is also part of the international Go Red for Women movement that aims to empower women with the knowledge and tools to take better care of their own and their families’ heart health.
Heart disease one of major killers of women
An alarmingly small number of women in South Africa are aware cardiovascular disease remains one of the major killers of women - one in three before the age of 60 will suffer from some form of heart condition. With the right knowledge and tools, women can protect themselves and their loved ones.
“The red dress is the symbol of the initiative, serving as a red alert for women to take action to protect their heart health,” said Jill Docherty, business leader, Marketing & Communications in Africa for MasterCard Worldwide.