Feeling good inside and out is Go Red theme

5:30-6 p.m., Wear Red, Drink Red wine tasting

6-8 p.m., Women and Heart Disease from Coronary Artery Disease to HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) with Dr. Lena Weinman, Columbia River Women’s Center and Dr. Kevin Wei, MCMC/OHSU Cardiology Clinic

Friday, Feb. 7, National Wear Red Day

The Dalles Civic Auditorium, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.:

Heart Expo and Noon Poker Fun Walk

Saturday, Feb. 8

Kiwanis Pocket Park on Klindt Drive:

The Heart Truth - 3k/5k/10k Walk/Run, registration 9:30 a.m., walk/run at 10

Feeling good from the inside out is the theme of this year’s three-day Go Red for Women observance this Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Wear Red, Drink Red, a wine tasting from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at Water’s Edge, is a new event this year to launch the celebration.

“Then we’ll have a great program with Dr. Lena Weinman of Columbia River Women’s Center and cardiologist Dr. Kevin Wei of the MCMC/OHSU Cardiology Clinic,” said Linda Stahl of Planetree Health Resource Library, who has coordinated organization of the events. “They’re going to be talking about women and heart disease, from coronary artery disease to hormone replacement therapy. They’re both very knowledgeable doctors here.”

Friday is National Wear Red Day, when everyone is encouraged to wear red to spotlight the dangers of heart disease to women. A Heart Expo and Poker Fun Walk are part of the day’s events.

“It’s going to be cold, but we encourage people to dress very warmly, dress in red, and dress up — make it fun,” Stahl said. “Families come with kids and strollers. People come with dogs. There are people of all ages and abilities who participate. It’s a lot of fun. I think it’s going to be a cool one, but we’re tough.”

The fun walk takes off from The Dalles Civic Auditorium for a loop around downtown. The Civic also hosts the Heart Expo, with a variety of health-related exhibits.

“There are new things at the relaxation station,” Stahl said. “We always offer massage and reiki and yoga, but this year we’re also offering acupuncture for stress reduction and aromatherapy for stress reduction. We will be giving women a taste of how they can reduce stress through those two practices.”

An activity center is also planned for the expo.

“We’re going to have the folks there from the Water’s Edge fitness center as well as Northern Wasco County Parks and Recreation,” Stahl said. “They’re going to be there to talk to women and have examples of ways women can be active in the community, from biking to kayaking.”

Different styles of kayaks will be on display, she added, and Danny Kittelson of the parks district will be talking to women about the different kayaks and lessons offered through the year. He’ll also touch on hiking trails in the area.

“There are a variety of ways and means we have here right in our own backyard to be active and healthy,” Stahl said.

Free health screenings are also part of the event, as usual, so women can “Know their numbers” and how they relate to heart disease. A pharmacist and diabetes educator will also be on hand. The guidelines have changed related to cholesterol, Stahl said, and the pharmacist can offer information on those changes. The diabetes educator can help women learn how to reduce their risk of heart disease, if they are living with diabetes.

The Heart Truth Run/Walk rounds out the weekend’s events Saturday with a 9:30 a.m. registration time and a 10 a.m. kick-off. The event is a fundraiser for the Mid-Columbia Health Foundation Cardiac Rehab Assistance Fund. The fund provides financial assistance to people who ordinarily couldn’t afford cardiac rehab. It can also provide money for travel expenses for people from out of the area who can’t afford gas to get back and forth to rehab in The Dalles, or those who may need a good pair of walking shoes to help them stay active — a key part of cardiac rehabilitation.

The main emphasis of all the events is feeling good from the inside out.

“Treating your heart well, so that you feel good inside and feel good outside tends to just flow over into all areas of your life,” Stahl said.