Among the leading causes of preventable death in Americans, heart disease remains one of the nation’s top killers. Among women, 500,000 die from the disease each year, approximately 1 in 3 of all mortalities.

To help raise awareness of heart disease in women, and offer steps for prevention, health nonprofit Zing Life Services is hosting its second-annual 100 Women in Red event in Washington this Saturday.

“We’re going to have a blood pressure screening for women who desire to have their blood pressure checked, some heart health educational materials available and some heart-healthy refreshments,” said Zing Life Services Health Educator Jai Smith.

In addition, women who attend will have the opportunity to enjoy fellowship with other attendees. A variety of vendors at the event, all women, will offer a variety of items for purchase.

A number of stroke survivors, all participants in Zing Life Service’s “Stroked by Love” program, will also share their stories during the event. That program, funded by Vidant Community Health Benefit Grant, has allowed the nonprofit to provide support and resources for 10 women in Beaufort County recovering from strokes.

Zing Life founder NyKedtra M. Brown has also published a book by the same name, entitled, “Stroked By Love: A guide for Stroke Survivors and Caregivers.”

Brown, a native of Aurora and nurse practitioner, founded Zing Life Services in 2013 as a means of helping address health care disadvantages due to location, economics and a lack of resources. In addition to organizing public health outreach events like 100 Women in Red, Zing Life Services also offers CPR/first aid training and nurse triage.

This weekend’s 100 Women in Red event will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Fairfield Inn and Suites, located at 2090 W. 15th St., Washington. The event is free to attend, though registration is required at bit.ly/goredwithzing. For more information on Zing Life Services, visit www.zinglifeservices.com.