The American Heart Association is teaming up with Alliance High School for the December 11 basketball game against the Gering Bulldogs. The RED OUT Event is to help raise awareness for the American Heart Association and heart disease. The theme is RED OUT: Recognize, Educate, Dedicate, Orchestrate, Understand and Teach, this theme is presented by the American Heart Association.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States and is the number one killer of women. Heart disease is more deadly than all forms of cancer combined. Approximately one woman dies every minute due to heart disease. In the Unites States someone has a heart attack every 34 seconds and every 60 seconds, a US citizen dies from a heart disease related event.

“My father had his first heart attack when I was 17, so we have lived with heart disease and it’s affects for 20 years” stated senior English teacher Tera Digmann. Every year about 785,000 Americans have a first coronary attack. Another 470,000 who have already had one or more coronary attacks have another attack. In 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the United States $108.9 billion. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and lost productivity.

The American Heart Association made contact with Activities Director Chris Bailey and asked if Alliance High School would like to participate. Spectators are being asked to wear red in support of the American Heart Association. RED OUT Event T-Shirts are being sold for $10 and can be bought in the High School office. Join the cause, donate and wear red this Friday!