Women across the South Plains are invited to grab their girlfriends and wear something red for The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women Luncheon. Learn how to fight the No. 1 killer of women from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 20 at the Overton Hotel and Conference Center.

The event features complimentary health screenings and vendor exhibits starting at 9 a.m. The program and luncheon will begin at 11:30. The keynote speaker is speaker is Kat Simmons, a 27-year veteran of the international comedy club circuit and a long-time supporter of the Go Red for Women movement. She’s been seen on The Improvs, Catch a Rising Star, the Comedy Channel, Fox’s Comedy Tonight and Candid Camera.  She has toured with The 3 Blonde Moms and won the eWomen Network’s international talent contest in Dallas in 2009.

Kirby Hocutt, Texas Tech University athletic director, is the 2017 event chairman. Hocutt also is on his second term as chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee for the 2017 season, with an extended term on the committee through February 2018.

This year’s luncheon once again includes a style show featuring local women and children who have suffered from heart disease and will share their stories while modeling the latest in fashions from local merchants. The men of Carpet Tech will be escorting the survivors down the catwalk.

There will also be a “purse-onality” silent auction. Businesses and women from the community donate purses filled with their favorite things to help raise money to educate women about heart disease. There are also a few special live auction items this year.

Funds raised from the luncheon support cardiovascular research, education and outreach initiatives.

The American Heart Association’s Go Red for Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s with additional support from Covenant Health, presenting sponsor; and, Texas Tech University and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, local cause sponsors.

People interested in taking part in Go Red activities or attending the Go Red for Women Luncheon, may contact Cindy Miller with the American Heart Association at cindy.miller@heart.org or (806) 441-5280. Limited individual tickets are available for purchase here: http://lubbockgored.ahaevents.org/

(News release from the American Heart Association)