Rutgers CSUCL and LEAP Academy Go Red for Women

February 5, 2010

Students, parents, and staff at the Rutgers Center for Strategic Urban Community Leadership (CSUCL) and LEAP Academy Charter School joined the effort against women’s heart disease on February 5th by wearing red and holding several heart-healthy activities. 

The event was part of National Wear Red Day, an effort by the American Heart Association to raise awareness and prevention for heart disease and stroke in women, which affects some 61 million Americans each year. 

“This event was an excellent opportunity to educate students and families on the dangers of heart disease and to offer valuable information on ways to stay healthy and reduce their future risks of developing this deadly disease,” said Dr. Gloria Bonilla-Santiago, CSUCL Director and Chair of the LEAP Board of Trustees. 

At LEAP Academy high school and elementary school, Nurse Margarita David and a group of nursing students from Rutgers – Camden and a physician from Cooper Hospital’s Department of Pediatrics conducted free blood pressure screenings for students, parents and staff.  In all, they performed nearly 100 screenings for students and over 25 staff.  “Some Camden families go a long time between doctor visits but have symptoms for high blood pressure, diabetes, and other diseases, and don’t know it,” Margarita said.  “This can provide an early detection for students that they are able to take to their doctor and get evaluated.”

Dr. Elizabeth Lawhorn, a resident physician from Cooper Hospital, supervised the screenings and hosted two informational presentations for students on common risk factors for developing heart disease.  “Camden children have so many risk factors [for heart disease],” Dr. Lawhorn said.  “This event is a great opportunity to educate and help them understand, especially the older students, that they have a say in their health future.”

The CSUCL and LEAP also held a fundraiser as part of the event, selling official “Go Red for Women” pins and heart-healthy cookbooks.  The fundraiser amassed over $300.00, which will be donated to the American Heart Association.  “It was a very successful event and we hope to repeat it again next year,” Margarita said.