FIT Kids Vote - Now 24 Hours Away

Yesterday we wrote about the FIT Kids Act, and the fact that Congress will be voting on it tomorrow.

This bill will establish a framework for schools to look at their physical education programs, both in terms of quality and quantity, and will give parents a better understanding of the level of activity their children are receiving at school.

So few kids get the exercise they need at school, and some kids get none, so it's critical to do everything we can to increase physical education within our nation's schools.

If you haven't taken action yet, please do so today by using the link below:

http://www.capitolconnect.com/yourethecure/fastaction.aspx?AlertID=16407

Thank you for your activism....and we hope you'll share this action with others on Facebook, Twitter or other social networks!

Action Needed: FIT Kids Vote in 48 Hours

The Fitness Integrated with Teaching Kids Act is on the move!

In 48 hours, the House of Representatives will vote on the FIT Kids Act, which promotes increased quality physical education (PE) in our nation's schools.

Which means... It's time to act!

Urge your Representative to vote YES in support of FIT Kids!

Currently, only 3.8% of elementary, 7.9% of middle, and 2.1% of high schools provide daily PE- and shockingly, 22% of schools do not require students to take any PE at all. But with childhood obesity greatly impacting the health of our nation's kids, we must expect more.

The FIT Kids Act would help us take a step in the right direction by establishing a framework for schools to closely look at the quality and quantity of PE they are providing, and to supply parents with that information to better understand the PE their kids are receiving.

The vote on Wednesday is a critical hurdle in advancing the bill, so we need your quick action today!

Send your email now to let your Representative know you are counting on his/her support of quality PE.

Thank you for stepping up for healthy, active kids!

Death and Taxes: How One Can Reduce the Other

During “tax week” when we often hear people joke that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. However, it’s also true it that taxes can prevent deaths, at least according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report on excise taxes on cigarettes and tobacco products!

This report, and other studies, show that one of the most effective tools to keeping cigarettes out of the hands of children and adults is to increase tobacco taxes as they directly affects the cost of a cigarette thus discouraging youths and young adults from picking up the habit, prompting more frequent attempts to quit, and reducing average cigarette consumption among those who continue to smoke.

With many states looking for ways to balance budgets and reduce deficits, increasing tobacco taxes are a great way to both promote public health and give individuals an added incentive to stop smoking. All states should look to raise their tobacco taxes, but we especially encourage the 30 states and territories that currently have a cigarette tax below $1.50 per pack to consider the benefits of a cigarette tax increase of at least $1.00 per pack.

The CDC report is another reminder for state and local legislators that tobacco tax increases bring long-lasting benefits with improved quality of life and a stronger fiscal environment. Legislators should not hesitate to do what’s best for their constituents.

You’re the Cure Facebook Action Center

When notorious 1930’s era bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he simply replied, “Because that’s where the money is.” That same line of thought can be used today by organizations that have starting using Facebook as part of their communications and advocacy efforts – it makes sense because that’s where the people are!

A lot people these days are spending time on Facebook. Is there any better place to see what your all of your friends are collectively up to – or to post photos of your kid's birthday party? Studies show that the average active Facebook user spends over 20 minutes a day on the site! It’s no wonder Facebook is now one of the top sites in the world – with a total user base greater than the entire population of the United States! Its reach is so wide that Facebook has become an almost a second Internet on to itself.

That’s why we are so excited to leverage Facebook’s popularity for advocacy purposes and announce the launch of the You’re the Cure Facebook Action Center. You can find it by clicking the “Take Action” tab on our You’re the Cure Facebook page, which can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/yourethecure/

The You’re the Cure Facebook Action Center empowers people to send messages to their elected officials and to opt-in to receive more information from the Heart Association -- all without ever leaving Facebook. The action center also gives activist the opportunity to share the actions with their existing group of Facebook friends, which helps spread our messages even further on the popular social media site.

We think this tool will really take our outreach efforts to the next level, but not without your help. Please become a “fan” on our page on Facebook and use the “Take Action” tab to send a message to a decision maker. It’s quick and easy, and when you’re done you’re only a few click away from millions of other things on Facebook!

National Start! Walking Day is April 7th

You know that heart disease is this country's No.1 killer. But did you know that exercising for as little as 30 minutes each day can reduce your risk?

Even though the benefits to regular exercise are well proven, it’s not always easy to find the time. Adults are spending more time at work than ever before and as a result Americans have becoming increasingly inactive. This is a problem when you consider the fact that physical inactivity doubles the risk of heart disease!

You can help reverse this trend and support the fight against heart disease by participating in National Start! Walking Day on Wednesday, April 7th. This is the day that adults nationwide can make the pledge to Start! walking and to become active and heart healthy, especially in the workplace.

On this day, employees are encouraged to wear sneakers to work and take at least 30 minutes out of their day to get up and walk. It's a great way to raise awareness of the Start! movement and to give your coworkers a friendly push toward a healthier life.

The Start! Movement is all about:

• Walking more.
• Eating better.
• Living a longer, healthier life.

There are countless physical activities out there, but walking has the lowest dropout rate of them all! It's the simplest positive change you can make to effectively improve your heart health.

Countless people across the country are jumping on board. Join them in the Start! Movement, get walking and start taking a more active role in your health!

Will you bring your walking shoes to work? It’s time to Start! Walking

Another 4 People Just Died

Sadly, by the time you finish reading this blog entry, another four Americans will die from disease, stroke or some other form of cardiovascular disease (CVD). More than 432,000 women die each year from CVD, but even more tragic is that so many of those deaths could have been prevented.

It’s up to activists like us to work to save these lives!

Programs like WISEWOMAN, which screens low-income women for stroke and heart disease risk and provides follow-up for those who need help, are a big part in stopping these needless deaths. Unfortunately, WISEWOMAN only has enough funding to operate in 20 states. Meanwhile, millions of women across the country are forced to wait.

Congress needs fund crucial prevention programs like this that save lives – but they haven’t committed to doing so yet!

It makes you wonder what the hold-up is.

• We know cardiovascular disease is still the leading killer of women in the United States
• We know WISEWOMAN has been effective in providing at-risk women with the tools they need to prevent heart disease and stroke.
• We know this program is woefully under funded.

So, what’s stopping them??

Give your Members of Congress a little push and ask what it will take to reach more states, screen more eligible women, and save more lives. Tell them to invest in WISEWOMAN - the program that is leading the fight against the No. 1 killer in American women.

After you send your message, post a comment below and let us know you took action!

State Spotlight! Washington Improves Systems of Care

On March 15, 2010, Washington’s Governor Christine Gregoire, signed into law a bill to improve care across the state for heart disease and stroke patients. This bill creates the framework and essential building blocks for an emergency cardiac and stroke systems of care for Washington’s citizens. This will help ensure that if an individual suffers a heart attack or stroke and calls 9-1-1, medical dispatch will send the right vehicle to them and the patient to the right hospital.

You’re the Cure advocates were instrumental every step of the way! Advocates used their personal stories to provide testimony and let Governor Gregoire know why Washington needs improved care for heart and stroke patients. Over 500 emails were sent and phone calls were made in support of the bill. And at the Go Red for Women Luncheons in the state, hundreds of petitions were collected and delivered to the Governor, urging for her support of the legislation!

Great job Washington You’re the Cure advocates and thank you for using your voices for heart disease and stroke patients in your state.