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In Honor of American Heart Month Starting Today, Rite Aid Launches Nationwide Heart Health Campaign

"Rite Aid is a committed year-round advocate for our customers' overall health and wellness. During American Heart Month, this commitment includes access to specially designed in-store and online heart health resources, including our greatest asset, the neighborhood Rite Aid pharmacist," said John Learish, senior vice president of marketing. "Rite Aid further underscores this commitment by having all of our stores once again support and promote the American Heart Association's highly popular 'Go Red For Women' movement, which is designed to empower women to take charge of their heart health."

Beginning today through Feb. 29, Rite Aid customers will have the opportunity to purchase in stores a paper red dress for $1. The dress can be signed, dedicated and pinned up on store walls to help promote awareness of women and heart disease. One hundred percent of the donations benefit this program. As a thank you to the customer, each purchased paper dress comes with coupons good for more than $9 off of aspirin, batteries, digital photo prints and other products.

Customers are also encouraged to ask their Rite Aid pharmacist about a free blood pressure reading and other key heart health numbers. Rite Aid pharmacists can provide their expertise, counseling patients on their personal goals for blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and blood glucose - an indicator of diabetes, which greatly increases the risk for heart disease. Members of Rite Aid's free customer loyalty program - wellness+ – can also qualify for a cholesterol and blood glucose readings with the accumulation of 500 wellness points, which are awarded for many front-of-the-store and pharmacy purchases. See www.riteaid.com for more information including purchase exclusions.

Throughout this two-month awareness-building campaign, customers can stop by any pharmacy or cash register to pick up a free 12-page "Take Heart" health guide with information including:

• Risk factors for heart disease - many of which can be reduced through lifestyle change;
• A simple substitution chart to help customers fine-tune food choices for a more heart-healthy diet; and
• Different types of fat and cholesterol including good varieties that help build tissue or prevent heart disease.

Guides are also online at www.riteaid.com/heart, which also offers additional resources including:

• Calculators and references tools for BMI and other key heart health numbers;
• The opportunity to develop a personal Action Plan from the American Heart Association;
• Seven simple steps from the American Heart Association to reduce the risk of developing heart disease; and
• Information on wellness+ for diabetes, a multifaceted free program offering exclusive diabetes resources and savings people living with diabetes and their caregivers.

Rite Aid Corporation is one of the nation's leading drugstore chains with approximately 4,700 stores in 31 states and the District of Columbia and fiscal 2011 annual revenues of $25.2 billion. Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press releases, is available through the company's website at www.riteaid.com.

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