Red Dress Sunday began in February 2005 with three African-American and Latino churches in Baltimore. By the beginning of this year, it had grown to include more than 180 places of worship in Maryland, Florida, Georgia, and Delaware.
Last month The Medi, MHDG’s nonprofit arm, added a fifth US state: South Carolina!
Designed to raise awareness about heart disease among Charleston’s women, the event took place at 20 houses of worship across the Charleston, SC region. Each church chose the Sunday it wanted to hold its Red Dress Sunday, and congregations wore red to bring attention to heart disease on that day. Materials, speakers, and a video interview of a stroke survivor provided by The Medi educated women about risk factors for heart disease and showed them how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.
City of Charleston Mayor John Tecklenburg and our own CEO, Audrey Whetsell, spoke at the flagship Red Dress Sunday service at Greater St. Luke’s AME Church, and Charleston’s first lady, Sandy Tecklenburg, served as the event’s honorary chair. A gospel concert finale capped off the event on the final Sunday of the month.
Six sponsors supported the event, and three TV news shows covered it.
Participating churches praised the event, noting how important it was to their congregations for women to learn about heart health.
Kudos to The Medi team for putting together a phenomenal event! They’re already planning for Charleston’s second annual Red Dress Sundays next year.
