Melanie Bloom, the widow of David Bloom, of NBC-TV news, who died of a deep-vein thrombosis-related blood clot while covering the Iraq war, wants to prevent similar deaths.

Melanie, national patient spokeswoman for the Coalition to Prevent Deep-Vein Thrombosis, said in a statement," The goal of Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness In Motion is to use movement as a way to continue to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of deep-vein thrombosis, to help assess personal risk and to encourage dialogue with a healthcare professional."

The coalition is partnering with Mary Ann Wilson, a registered nurse and host of the PBS-broadcast, "Sit and Be Fit," to present Deep-Vein Thrombosis Awareness In Motion. Simple movements are demonstrated by the program that can be done anywhere.

Wilson told United Press International," Everything we are recommending can be done in a chair, requires only simple movement and can be done anytime -- for example, place your feet flat on the floor, leave the heel on the ground and lift the toes, hold for 3 seconds, then alternate to lift off your heel for 3 seconds, and repeat."

Up to 2 million Americans are affected by deep-vein thrombosis annually and approximately 300,000 die -- claiming more lives than breast cancer and AIDS combined.

Dr. Geno Merli, coalition steering committee member and chief medical officer at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, told UPI," The risk of developing deep-vein thrombosis is nearly eight times higher during hospitalization, but being age 40 and older, overweight, a smoker, having restricted mobility, cancer, an infectious disease, respiratory failure or a family history of blood clots can increase the risk of having a blood clot." (With inputs from Agencies)