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Rosie O'Donnell and Red Dresses for Heart Health

At Fashion Week, celebs took to the catwalk for a cause

By Sue Campbell

Rosie O'Donnell's message was clear: If you're having a heart attack like the one that almost killed her two years ago, don't sit around at your house for 50 hours before seeking help.

"I thought breast cancer would get me like it got my mother," O'Donnell said at a Go Red for Women fashion show Thursday, Feb. 12, where she was the MC. She's since learned that while breast cancer sadly takes 30,000 lives in the U.S. each year, heart disease takes 300,000, "more than all cancers combined," O'Donnell said. 

To raise awareness, the American Heart Association for the past decade has teamed up with Macy's, designers and celebrities to send red dresses down the runway during New York Fashion Week.

This February — Heart Health Month — Next Avenue joined with Go Red for Women to focus on understanding and prevention of heart disease. Sometimes, hearing personal stories can spark change more than facts and figures can. With that in mind, here's what four celebrities who participated in this year's fashion show had to say about why they want to raise awareness and what they do to "go red."  

Rosie O'Donnell

After her heart attack, she says she "got educated."

Donna Mills

The actress best known for her Knots Landing role wonders if her mother had known, could her life have been saved?

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Star Jones

A survivor herself, she walked the runway with her dog to promote awareness.

Barbara Eden

She showed off her I Dream of Jeannie arm cross and blink (as well as a gorgeous dress) on the runway, and in this clip urges women to take care of themselves. 

Here's the runway show featuring red dresses:

Sue Campbell was an Editorial and Content Director for Next Avenue. Follow her on Twitter @SuePCampbell. Read More
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