GHS students aim to raise awareness of heart disease

Published 3:41 pm Tuesday, October 16, 2012

It’s October.

That means orange pumpkins, black cats and pink ribbons can be seen just about everywhere.

While October brings Halloween and trick-or-treating, it also ushers in breast cancer awareness month. Greenville High School social worker Bettdonna Mack and students at GHS are hoping there’s room in October for one more color – red.

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“We want to try and use our homecoming festivities to raise awareness for heart health,” Mack said.

The idea came after the sudden passing of GHS student Brittany Coleman, who died Sept. 23 from a heart attack.

“We wanted to do something to honor Brittany,” Mack said.

Mack said Coleman will be named an honorary homecoming queen at Friday’s game.

She also said students will take part in a “heart walk” during the GHS homecoming parade on Thursday, while also passing out flyers from the American Heart Association at the game on Friday.

“We just want to try and do something to raise awareness,” Mack said. “I know October is breast cancer awareness month, but I think that most people are very aware of that because you see the pink ribbons everywhere. They may not be as aware of the different types of heart disease.”

Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women in America, according to the American Heart Association.