New Brunswick's annual Heart Truth Fashion Show aims to raise awareness and educate women about the risks of heart disease.

The event is one of the Heart and Stroke Foundation's key fundraising and educational campaigns. This is the second time New Brunswick will host one of the nation-wide fashion shows.

Last year it was held in Saint John at a low-key luncheon.

"We wanted to test it out and see what the response would be," said organizer Darcy LeBlanc, communications manager for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of New Brunswick.

"This year we're bringing it up a notch."

This year's fashion show will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Fredericton, and will feature comedian Jessica Holmes of CBC's Royal Canadian Air Farce as the evening's host.

The main focus will be on the fashion show, with prominent New Brunswick women modeling red dresses designed by students or alumni of the New Brunswick College of Craft and Design. Other features of the gala will include a performance by two opera singers and an address from a cardiologist.

The goal of the Heart Truth campaign is to inform and educate people about heart disease risks for women. LeBlanc said many people don't realize heart disease is the leading cause of death in Canadian women, or that women can reduce their risk by 80 per cent through lifestyle changes.

"Many women are busy taking care of everyone else in their lives," LeBlanc said.

"They don't realize how serious the risk of heart disease really is. We want to show them how to identify and reduce their risks by being smoke free, exercising, eating right and talking to their doctor about blood pressure and cholesterol."

Former Olympic silver medalist Marianne Limpert will be one of the models.

Limpert said she's looking forward to participating.

"There are lots of well known and well respected women involved," she said.

"I was honoured to be included in that group."

Limpert said she hasn't seen her finished dress yet, but she's looking forward to trying it on.

She said she feels a fashion show is a good way to raise interest and awareness around heart disease in women.

"I think it's a really positive thing," Limpert said.

"I didn't realize before that heart disease is the leading cause of death in (Canadian) women, so I think it's important to get that information out there."

She said besides bringing together a number of well-known personalities for a good cause - from Health Minister Mary Schryer to actress Angela Cullins - the fashion show is an opportunity for New Brunswick fashion designers to showcase their works.

Joelle Richard is one of those designers. She's creating a dress for opera singer Monette Gould.

Richard graduated from NBCCD last year and is pursuing an advanced diploma at the college.

She said she didn't have enough time to participate in last year's fashion show, but was eager to be involved this time around.

"I was thinking about the dress all the way back in May," Richard said.

"I knew I wanted to do something medieval inspired. I know my model personally; she had a Renaissance wedding and she's an opera singer.

"She gets lots of chances to wear historically inspired costumes, so I figured she'd be OK with my dress."

Richard said Gould was thrilled when she saw the design, and Richard is looking forward to seeing the garment on her model.

Richard said she's pleased to be involved in the fundraising event and hopes it will make a real impact.

"I think it's great to get the information out there for people," she said.

"It's an event where people can enjoy themselves while finding out about the signs of heart disease and contributing to the cause."

For more information about the Heart and Stroke Foundation's Heart Truth campaign, visit www.thehearttruth.ca.