This morning, on Facebook, a friend of mine posted about a great event being promoted by the American Heart Association. It's called Start, and it's a big PR campaign about getting everyone to start walking. They are promoting National Start Walking Day on April 8. Great idea.
I'm a sucker for a hook, and I've been trying to get more of this kind of thing in my life, so I checked it out. I'm also a sucker for a t-shirt (long sleeved even more so). I'm thinking I like the logo, I like the idea, I like the organization, and the t-shirt might be its own little motivator. So...one click and I'm off to the American Heart Association Shop! Yay!
So I get there, and I see even a better t-shirt than the one I first saw. Black, long sleeved (more yay), with bright green people walking on it.
Cool! I'm in.And then....and then....I discover that they don't sell it in any sizes larger than XL. And I'm thinking what the f? The American Heart Association lists obesity as a "major risk factor" for heart disease (not that we don't know that), promotes exercise, even goes so far as to start a whole durn campaign to get us all walking, and then---albeit in one small way--snubs people who are overweight?
No, of course I don't need the t-shirt to walk (and actually, an XL would be just fine, though I often buy bigger because I like 'em big and baggy). Of course, I will (and do) walk anyway. And you should too. As our favorite ex-con Martha Stewart says, it's a Good Thing.
Another thing you should do is call (1-800-233-1230) or send off an email to the American Heart Association, pointing out that they might include a wider range of sizes in their promotions. Think Target Market. Do it today, if only so that I don't feel like the only dope to point this out.
Of course, to add insult to injury, the contact email address on the Start merchandise website bounces back as not valid, so you need to write them here:
(which kinda makes me think that the message reaches a marketing firm rather than the AHA, so also email them via this form)
Thanks. And grrr.
POSTCRIPT: I just got the following email back:
Robin,
As a 2xl woman myself, we have been sending emails such as these to the ears of American Heart. They know the needs and hopefully we can get them to add larger shirts. Thank you for the feedback.
Dianne Villarreal
Senior Account Relationship Manager
Cool. It sounds totally worth it for as many of you to email as are so inclined! She also indicated that a similar campaign led to 2xl and 3xl shirts for the GoRed campaign, so it's clear that they are listening.
