Heart(y) celebrity weekend events, September 11
September 11, 2009 by Raquel
Filed under HEART AND STROKE
A celebrity-studded healthy weekend is waiting for us as stars share their time and experiences for heart-healthy causes.
Saturday: Go Red For Women® premieres NBC TV special
Let’s start with the Go Red For Women® TV Special which premieres on NBC on Saturday. September 12. The 30-minute TV special will be hosted by The TODAY Show’s Hoda Kotb and will feature actress Andie MacDowell who will share her personal story of heart disease. The show focuses on choices women have made to be heart-healthy and features one of our Go Red For Women 2009 casting call finalists as well as cardiologist Dr. Susan Bennett and nutritionist Samantha Heller. See it nationwide on MSNBC at noon, EST. Check out the local schedule of Go Red For Women® “Choose To Live” here. Go Red For Women® is an initiative of the American Heart Association. This is the second TV special on women’s heart health. The first special was aired last year with a resounding success.
Sunday: Desperate Housewives’ Teri Hatcher to do the Malibu Triathlon this weekend
You wouldn’t think she’s the cardio type but there is nothing desperate about Teri Hatcher if you see her in the pool, on her bike, or on the treadmill. My, I wish I could be just as fit. She definitely doesn’t look like klutzy Susan at all. Teri is going to do the Nautica Malibu Triathlon this weekend (Sunday, September 13) and show her physical endurance. The triathlon consists of a half-mile swim, an eighteen-mile out-and-back bike course, and a 4-mile run and proceeds of the run will go to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital.
Other celebrities before her have done it:
Jennifer Lopez (02:23:38.8), Andy Baldwin (01:30:44.7), and Matthew McConaughey (1:43:48).
…so we are hoping that Terry can do it. Go, Terry, go.
Everyday: Stroke’s No Joke
Two African-American comedians are actively campaigning to fight stroke by incorporating the topic into their shows. Alonzo Bodden and George Wilborn are the new celebrity spokepersons of Stroke’s No Joke, the new public service campaign of the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association to increase stroke awareness and encourage bystander help. The theme “Time Lost is Brain Lost” and pushes home the message that recognizing the symptoms and calling for emergency help is the best way to increase the chances of survival from a stroke attack. There are TV as well as radio spots presented by the comedians , who are doing “comedy with a life saving punchline”.
Photo credit: wikicommons

It’s so wonderful that so many celebrities are helping out with these important causes. I’m glad that there are some celebrities that use their status and popularity to better the world.