Delta Zeta women Go Red for friend

While the color red is usually associated with Valentine's Day this time of year, the women of Delta Zeta are promoting it to spread awareness about heart disease in women.\nIn collaboration with the American Heart Association, the women sponsored Go Red for Women day on campus in honor of their friend Nichole Birky, an IU student and Delta Zeta member who passed away from heart complications in 2006. Last Thursday and Friday, sorority members wearing red T-shirts stationed themselves around campus to enlist IU students to make a pledge for their hearts.\n"People don't think that stuff like this can happen to us, because we're young, but we want people to be aware that this can happen to you," said senior Jessica D'Amour. "It's the number one killer of women. We wanted to send that message to everyone on campus."\nRepresentatives from the American Heart Association made a trip to Bloomington on Friday to help the women organize the event. The Go Red For Women movement started in 2004 and has become a large-scale national event, mustering the support of thousands across the country, said AHA communications coordinator Jeannine Templeman. The AHA has been working with Delta Zeta for months to kick off the event at IU. \n"Too few people realize that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of (both) women and men, but the good news is heart disease largely can be prevented," Templeman said. "By wearing red on Feb. 2, you can help raise awareness of heart disease and remind women they are empowered to take action and reduce their risk."\nTo get the word out, sorority members decked out campus landmarks and trees with red ribbons, painted bridges and walls, and hung posters in various buildings. Those who signed the heart pledges will receive something in the mail later telling them how to love their heart and prevent heart disease, said senior Amanda Gibson.\n"This is just about creating awareness for everyone. Now that we know how Nichole passed away, we can help others to know that heart disease is very serious," she said. "The American Heart Association came to us with the idea for this because they knew we were touched by her death and this would be the perfect thing for us to do in her honor."\nIn addition to Go Red awareness activities, the women of Delta Zeta found another way to embody Birky's warm spirit -- literally.\n"My friend and I created The Nic, a neck warmer," Gibson said. "We wanted it to represent her unique personality so there are a lot of designs with different vintage buttons, plus it's really warm and cute, there's one for everyone."\nThe Nic is sold at B Boutique at 10th Street and College and also online. Each are handmade by one of eight knitters, and some of the proceeds go to Birky's family. The next step is to get The Nic in national stores like Bloomingdales and Nordstrom, Gibson said. \n"It's really taken off like crazy -- we've had such a great response," she said. "We wanted to bring her back to life and this is really a great way to do it"