Rite Aid, the nation's third largest drugstore chain, is launching a national education and prevention campaign against heart disease in observation of American Heart Month in February. Stores nationwide are now selling $1 red paper dresses to benefit the American Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement, reminding customers that they can get free advice and blood pressure readings, and distributing free "Roadmap to Healthy Heart" guides.

From Jan. 23 to March 26, Rite Aid customers can display their support for the Heart Association's Go Red For Women movement by buying – and signing – a paper dress icon to hang on store walls. Every dollar raised goes directly to the Go Red For Women movement and comes with more than $10 in product coupons.

The educational components of Rite Aid's heart health program include:

  • A 12-page guide available in stores and online at www.riteaid.com that offers a "Roadmap to a Healthy Heart," including seven simple steps that can reduce heart disease and stroke. It also breaks down the numbers behind heart disease risk factors such as the so-called "good" or "bad" cholesterols and the "ugly" danger of triglycerides. Guides also discuss diet's role in heart health – including the average American's elevated salt intake;
  • A dozen online resources are available at www.riteaid.com along with the guides including interactive lifestyle tips and tools, and a link to the Heart Association's Start! Walking Program with local walking maps and exercise journals; and
  • Free consultations are available in stores by Rite Aid pharmacists specially trained to provide heart health advice plus information on the of cholesterol and high blood pressure medication therapies, which is important because just in patients managing blood pressure alone, 75 percent of patients take multiple prescriptions.

Healthy heart product promotions

By using Rite Aid's free customer rewards program wellness+ between Jan. 23 and March 26, card members can earn a $10 +UP Reward by spending $30 on select heart health products such as aspirin, diabetes glucose testing supplies, fish oil and other vitamins. If the member reaches $50, they earn a $20 +UP Reward. As an extension of wellness+, +UP Rewards print at the bottom of a register receipt and are redeemable like cash toward a future purchase.

Free health screenings

Rite Aid also is helping customers catch heart disease warning signs early.

  • Members of wellness+ can qualify year-round for free health screenings for total cholesterol and blood glucose, which can help patients detect early warning signs of potential heart health problems later. To earn certificates, members accumulate 500 points in a calendar year with 1 point per $1 spent on most nonpharmacy purchases and 25 points for every eligible prescription. See www.riteaid.com/wellness for more information.
  • Anyone can stop in at one of 4,100 Rite Aid stores equipped with a Lifeclinic blood pressure monitor to get their latest reading. Rite Aid pharmacists can help put the results in perspective.

Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with more than 4,700 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2010 annual revenues of $25.7 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at http://www.riteaid.com.

Rite Aid
Eric Harkreader, 717-975-5713
eharkreader@riteaid.com