Local Yarn Store Crafting Healthy Hearts With Monthly Stitch Red Knit Night Educational Series

Presenter to Talk Trends & Provide Risk Reduction Tips for Heart Disease   

Reno, Nev. (March 21, 2012) – University of Nevada, Reno Graduate Research Assistant, Heidi Lengdorfer, is joining Jimmy Beans Wool, local retailer of yarn and fabric, to educate women about cardiovascular disease and how they can protect their heart health. The free Stitch Red Knit Night event will take place on Tuesday, April 3^rd at 6 pm and is part of an ongoing educational series focusing on heart health hosted monthly at Jimmy Beans Wool’s retail location at 1312 Capital Blvd. #103 in Southeast Reno.

Stitch Red Knit Night is part of a high-profile nationwide heart disease awareness campaign, Stitch Red, founded by Jimmy Beans Wool and supported by a majority of manufacturers and retailers in the Needlearts Industry. The campaign is driving efforts to draw attention to heart disease, help women understand the risk factors for the disease and encourage the adoption of healthier lifestyles so they can protect their heart health.

“Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States and the Needlearts industry is made up of 98% women, so we need to draw attention to this deadly illness and help make the fiber community and women everywhere aware of their risks and informed on how to lead healthier lives,” said Laura Zander, owner of Jimmy Beans Wool. 

Lengdorfer is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Public Health and is writing her thesis on the public health implications of heart disease for women in Nevada. She will discuss noteworthy heart disease and cardiovascular disease trends; showcase how Nevada and Washoe County stack up to the U.S. in heart disease trends; explain gender differences in cardiovascular disease; and draw attention to risk factors and provide tips on ways to reduce risk for heart disease.   

“As a knitter, a customer of Jimmy Beans Wool, as well as a public health graduate student, I was excited by the opportunity to speak about the threat of heart disease to other women who share my interests and bring awareness to my own community, said Lengdorfer. “I hope to encourage other women to protect their heart and vascular health for longer, happier lives."

Attendees of the Stitch Red Knit Night will be able to preview and purchase official Stitch Red products for which a percentage of gross profits will benefit the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (FNIH) in support of The Heart Truth^®, a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). For more information about the Stitch Red Knit Night and to reserve your spot, please call 775-827-9276 or email info@stitchred.com.

About Stitch Red

Stitch Red is supported by a majority of manufacturers and vendors in the Needlearts industry who are creating unique Stitch Red products for which a percentage of gross profits will benefit the FNIH in support of The Heart Truth^®, a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease, sponsored by the NHLBI. Additionally, Jimmy Beans Wool has written a book, Knit Red, which features 30 celebrity designers sharing patterns and personal stories and will be released in June of 2012. Stitch Red Knit Nights are being hosted by Jimmy Beans Wool and other local yarn stores across the country. A percentage of gross profits from Knit Red and Stitch Red Knit Nights will also benefit FNIH in support of The Heart Truth^®. 

About Jimmy Beans Wool

Jimmy Beans Wool is a yarn and fabric retailer offering knitters, crocheters and sewers worldwide a comprehensive selection of the finest yarns and fabrics along with the latest fashion trends. As a market leader in its multi-billion dollar industry, Jimmy Beans Wool takes an innovative, unparalleled approach to marketing. It is the first-ever official yarn, knitting and crochet supplier to U.S. Snowboarding and U.S. Freeskiing and is responsible for the national industry-wide Stitch Red campaign against heart disease in women. The store has been awarded an excellent rating from StellaService for its outstanding customer service reputation and has been named three times to the Inc. 5000, Inc. Magazine's List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in the U.S. It has also been featured on CNN, NPR, Forbes and in the New York Times.

About The Heart Truth^® Campaign
The Heart Truth^® is a national awareness campaign for women about heart disease and is sponsored by the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Through the campaign, the NHLBI leads the nation in a landmark heart health awareness movement that is being embraced by millions who share the common goal of better heart health for all women.

The centerpiece of The Heart Truth is the Red Dress, which was introduced as the national symbol for women and heart disease awareness in 2002 by the NHLBI. The Red Dress^® reminds women of the need to protect their heart health, and inspires them to take action.  To learn more, visit www.hearttruth.gov.

® The Heart Truth and The Red Dress are registered trademarks of HHS. Participation by Jimmy Beans Wool and Stitch Red partners does not imply endorsement by HHS/NIH/NHLBI.