By Zachary Greco
February is here and for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, this means it’s officially Heart Month.
All month long, canvassers will be going door-to-door collecting donations for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. In the Quinte area, about 11,000 canvassers will be hitting the streets in an attempt to reach this year’s goal of $130,000.
“It is a great way to get out and give back to your community,” said area manager Maureen Corrigan.
Along with the door-to-door canvass, numerous businesses and organizations will be selling hearts for donations, posting them on a wall to show who donated and how many people have been making contributions.
“Many will be having a ‘Red Day’ where employees will wear red for the day and make a donation to Heart and Stroke,” said Corrigan.
With streets still available for canvassing in the area, Corrigan said anyone interested in volunteering can contact the Heart and Stroke offices and a street will be assigned along with the necessary donation kit.
“I manage an apartment building,” said volunteer Lorraine Clarke, “so I have a kit that I set up in the lobby and I’ll have people come down and donate if they are interested.”
There are an estimated 70,000 heart attacks each year in Canada, causing the deaths of over 16,000 Canadians. Stroke has now become the third leading cause of death in Canada, contributing to six per cent of all deaths in Canada.
Unless you have been living under a rock for the past few months, you’d have seen the Heart and Stroke Foundation’s new advertising campaign, Make Death Wait.
The two commercials, one for men and one for women, both contain an eerie narration while showing a group of guys working together and women with their children and families.
“I love these guys,” says the voice of heart disease, “So who’s it gonna be this time? Ahh, it doesn’t matter, I’ll get one of you. I always do.”
The commercial for women is even creepier, with the voice of heart disease talking about how he loves women and how they put the family first. At first glance, one would assume the commercial is an anti-rapist commercial, with the creepy voice-over and voyeuristic camera shots.
“I love how you’re so concerned that I’ll get your husband. You have no idea that I’m coming after you,” says the creepy voice at the end of the commercial for women.
With a campaign of this sort, the Heart and Stroke Foundation are striking the ever-absent fear of heart disease and stroke into the minds of millions across Canada.