Modeling one of the designer Red Dresses at Fashion Week in New York is singer Kelly Rowland of the now-disbanded group Destiny's Child.

The Heart Truth, NHLBI's national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, recently launched two keynote activities for 2006 — a Road Show and the Red Dress Collection Fashion Show. The road show started its tour in April and will travel to three communities to provide free heart disease risk factor screenings. In collaboration with the American College of Cardiology and the HHS Office on Women's Health (OWH), the tour will stop in Pittsburgh, Memphis and Washington, D.C.

Only 13 percent of women consider heart disease to be their own greatest health risk. Yet, 80 percent of midlife women have one or more risk factors for heart disease such as high blood pressure or being overweight.

"We know that there is a disconnect among women as it relates to heart disease and their own personal risk," said NHLBI director Dr. Elizabeth Nabel. "Therefore, it is critical for NHLBI and our partners to be in communities that are at high risk of heart disease to help women better understand their own personal risk and empower them to take action for heart health."

NIH'ers are encouraged to visit the Heart Truth Road Show at Union Station on May 12-14, which is Mother's Day weekend and the kick-off of the OWH National Women's Health Week. The exhibit will highlight the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness — the Red Dress. Accompanying the free screenings and educational materials will be a display of six designer dresses from the Red Dress Collection Fashion Shows, held each February in New York City at Olympus Fashion Week.

Visit www.hearttruth.gov for more information about the Road Show stop in Washington, D.C., including exhibit hours.