This year, Rockdale Medical Center’s Red Hot and Healthy Luncheon and Fashion Show went to Hawaii – in a fashion. The sixth annual luncheon on Friday afternoon became a luau, complete with grass skirts, leis, and coconut attire, but the fun and hilarity served to draw attention to a serious matter. RMC’s CEO Deborah Armstrong informed the nearly 200 attendees that heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women – more than all cancers and strokes combined.

Tasty Hawaiian-inspired fare, including bamboo-skewered coconut shrimp and key lime pie, was served by a wait staff of community leaders, among them United Way’s Claire Cline and RCPS Board of Education member Jim McBrayer. Sashaying down the runway in spring fashions by Belk were RMC physicians, such as Dr. Lisa Gillespie and Dr. Syed Wasim, Judge Nancy Bills and the Red Hat Society’s Joyce Brown. Belk also provided door prizes and coupons to their "Our Heart to Yours" campaign on February 22.

As in years’ past, the most anticipated moment was "Elvis", RMC’s talented security manager Ben Mance, crooning a few numbers. This year’s surprise twist was his back-up entourage of Hawaiian dancers, Conyers city Councilmen Marty Jones and Gerald Hinesley, Premier Platform’s David Cooper and BB & T’s Mike Hilleboe. The gentlemen’s’ hula stylings and attire had the crowd on its collective feet.

Proceeds from the event will go towards community heart disease education.