Hickory, NC – The Frye Heart Center will host its 2nd Annual Ready Set Red-What Your Heart is Trying to Tell You event on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, from 6 to 9:30pm at the Hickory Metro Convention Center.

    The local event is designed to be a call to all women to take charge of their health, as well as recognize and reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke.

    Emmy-winning actress, humorist, and writer Tracey Conway will be the keynote speaker. Conway survived sudden cardiac arrest at 38 and turned her miraculous recovery into a poignant yet laugh-out-loud presentation that has wowed thousands, including Oprah Winfrey.

    Conway’s inspiring, informative presentation, “Drop Dead Gorgeous: My Heart Attack Story” is a rousing anthem that inspires women to get passionate about their health. Aside from being an internationally acclaimed speaker, Conway is an accomplished writer. She most recently contributed the lead story in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Healthy Living: HEART DISEASE. Sought for her effervescent-yet-educated presence, she served as a panelist on Second Opinion, the PBS series that showed—in a way never seen before—how doctors navigate their way through tough medical decisions.

    WBTV News Anchor Molly Grantham will serve as emcee and Sheri Lynch, nationally syndicated radio personality of the Bob & Sheri Show on 107.9 the LINK, will serve as facilitator of a question and answer session that will include a panel of Frye staff physicians.

    Tickets are $25 per person, payable the day of the event, cash only please. RSVP is required as seating is limited. To make reservations call 828-315-5850 or email readysetred@fryeregional.com. Those attending are encouraged to wear red to show their support. Sponsorship opportunities are also available for Ready Set Red. Please contact Suzanne Fogleman at 828-315-3091 for more information.

    Frye Regional Medical Center, part of Tenet North Carolina, is a 355-bed acute care facility located at 420 North Center Street in Hickory. The hospital has been serving the medical and health care needs of Catawba County since 1911. The hospital’s main campus includes a comprehensive heart center and cardiopulmonary rehab, orthopedics, bariatric surgery, inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, pediatrics, center for neurosciences, cancer center and women’s pavilion. Frye has several extended campuses to serve families throughout the area, including Frye Wellness and Education Center, which houses the Center For Diabetes Self-Management Care, perinatal education and community wellness classes; South Campus for psychiatric services; Viewmont and Tate Surgery Centers; Vein and Wound Center/Infusion Care; Unifour Pain Treatment Center; Piedmont Therapy, offering sports and industrial rehabilitation; two urgent care facilities; FryeCare, an outpatient diagnostic facility; plus HealthPoint, which provides extensive industrial services and programs to employers.

    Frye Regional Medical Center is accredited by the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, the nation’s oldest and largest hospital accreditation agency. To learn more about the hospital, visit www.fryemedctr.com.