For the second year, Ashley HomeStore has proudly partnered with the American Heart Association to promote cardiovascular health in the Tampa Bay area, home of Ashley Global Retail’s world headquarters. A custom-made red sofa served as the star of the tour, making stops at local universities, TV stations, hospitals, museums and community parks.
The Red Sofa Tour was conceived as a way to sit down and talk about heart health. Every 40 seconds an American dies from cardiovascular disease. That’s about 2,150 each day. 787,000 a year. One third of all deaths overall. What’s most alarming about these statistics is that many cardiovascular diseases are completely preventable. In promising news, however, the death rate from heart disease dropped 39 percent between 2001 and 2011. Why? Thanks to the efforts of organizations like the American Heart Association, people are becoming more educated about cardiovascular disease and are making changes that support a heart-healthy lifestyle.
#Hashtag to Win
At each of the tour stops, individuals and groups were invited to take a seat on the red sofa and capture a selfie to post on social media. In addition to posting their photos on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, individuals were encouraged to share personal experiences and champion the importance of cardiovascular health. Tagging posts with the hashtag #RedSofaTour participants entered for a weekly chance to win a $100 Ashley HomeStore gift certificate. At the conclusion of the tour, a grand prize of $500 was awarded to one lucky participant. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who visited the Red Sofa on its second annual tour!
Get Heart Smart
The Red Sofa Tour and selfie contest might have ended, but the fight against cardiovascular disease is far from over. Learn what you can do to improve your heart health by visiting the American Heart Association’s website, www.heart.org.
