Carling Communications and The Fishawack Group of Companies (of which Carling is part) celebrated Heart Valve Disease (HVD) Awareness Day on Friday, Feb 22, 2019 with special pledges. Boxes of heart-shaped paper art were distributed to 5 offices and employees were asked to pledge to raise awareness of heart valve disease. Once signed, the pledge hearts were adhered to a designated “pledge wall” and photographs were shared on social media. More than 100 employees took the awareness pledge.

“Heart disease accounts for I in 4 deaths annually in the US. As many as 11 million Americans have HVD, yet 70% of individuals over 65 know little to nothing about HVD,” said Jackie MacDonald, Carling Account Director. “We are dedicated to raising HVD awareness around the world.”

The goal of HVD Awareness Day is to increase recognition of the specific risks and symptoms of HVD, improve detection and treatment, and ultimately save lives. HVD is a potentially disabling and deadly disease, but available treatments can save lives―making education and awareness particularly important.

“By signing their name to a heart, each employee pledges to help bring attention to heart valve disease, so that more individuals can understand the severity of this disease, and how it can affect their loved ones,” said Lacey Christman, Carling Group Creative Director, and one of the key contributors to this social media initiative.