HRUK Pulse Spring Summer 2014

TV cook Sally is our new ambassador“2014 is the 10th anniversary of my heart attacks so if I can survive 10 years I can survive forever,” says TV cook Sally Bee, Heart Research UK’s latest healthy living ambassador.

Mum of three, Sally, was just 36 when her life was nearly ended by a rare emergency condition, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), that occurs when a tear forms in one of the heart’s blood vessels. She was given little or no chance of survival and doctors called in her family – husband, Dogan, and children Tarik, Kazim and Lela who were four, two and nine months at the time – to prepare them for the worst.

It was their presence that willed her to survive. “When I realised that I was still alive and I’d allowed myself to think for a second about my little ones at home, I was filled with an all-consuming need and desire and passion not to let myself die. I believe it was this surge of emotion that helped saved my life. It must have been all about the people that I love. It was instinctive and I decided there and then that I would never, ever give up breathing.”

She’s really positive about life in general now and wants to get positive messages across about healthy living and to help others going through similar health problems. “This has been a year where things are changing for me and I am looking at the world in a different light. I want to lend my voice to Heart Research UK because without research I wouldn’t be here,” she said. “We fit together perfectly.”

Sally has cooked some of her heart-healthy recipes on a number of daytime TV shows, including Daybreak, the daytime flagship programme on ITV, that began with a series on the Brazilian diet that tied in with the summer 2014 World Cup. She is raring to get going as a HRUK Ambassador, “Heart Research UK is a national local charity and that is really important to me as I know that funds raised locally will be spent near you.”

Research 3-7 | Helping Little Hearts 8-9 | Special people 10-12 | New ambassadors 14-15 | Company help 18-20 | Midlands 23-26 | Fundraising for HRUK 27-28 | Healthy Heart Grants 29-35 |

Contents

Look out for her recipe book, Sally Bee - The Secret Ingredient - which not only gives healthy recipe ideas, but relates to how her health problems have prompted a fresh, positive outlook on life and a new healthy eating regime.

Cover story

Cover picture: Sally with her children, Tarik, Kazim and Lela

2 Heart Research UK Ambassadors

Novel and Emerging Technologies (NET) GrantNovel and Emerging Technologies Grants are for projects that focus on the development of new and innovative technologies to diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease and related conditions. In our last round, we awarded £190,877 to develop new imaging techniques to assess coronary heart disease to an established, experienced team at King’s College London.

UpdATeongRAnTS

Developing new imaging techniques for coronary artery diseasedr Richard Siow King’s College London / £190,877 - 2 years

The problem

About 20 per cent of the air we breathe is oxygen, whilst levels in blood supplying the heart are between three and six per cent. In coronary artery disease, where the blood supply to the heart becomes restricted, levels of oxygen may be as low as one to three per cent which causes changes within the tissue and the build-up of damaging by-products such as free radicals that contributes to cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis, heart attack and stroke.

The project

Doctors are keen to develop new techniques for imaging the human heart without the need for invasive medical tests. This project involves an advanced imaging technique called positron emission tomography (PET) which produces detailed three-dimensional pictures showing how living tissues and organs are working, and will develop new PET ‘probes’. This grant will also provide funding for specialised equipment so that cells can be grown under carefully-controlled oxygen levels to mimic realistic conditions in the body.

The Benefits

This research will increase our knowledge about how oxygen levels affect the uptake of these new probes by heart and blood vessel cells. It is hoped that this will lead to new imaging techniques for detecting areas of the heart with a poor blood supply or that are damaged in heart disease, allowing cardiologists to assess the severity of disease and monitor how it progresses, so that patients can be treated as soon as possible.

Helping Little

Hearts

see page 8

www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants

More grant info on our website www.heartresearch.org.uk/research 3

dr Ahmet Fuat University of Durham / £82,738 - 9 months Management of heart failure

The problem Heart failure means the heart is unable to pump blood around the body effectively. It reduces life-expectancy and hinders normal daily activities. It affects at least 750,000 people in the UK, yet is often undetected and under-treated. The benefits of new treatments are carefully assessed, but there is very little research afterwards looking at the way care is delivered.

The project The study explored the ways that health care professionals in the UK diagnose and care for people with heart failure. The team spoke to GPs, heart failure nurses, heart specialists and other hospital consultants. Clinical staff felt uncertain about diagnosing different types of heart failure and were unsure of who had overall responsibility for heart failure patients from the point of diagnosis through to the end-of-life. Some of the problems the team were told about are the same as those found when they spoke to GPs ten years ago, which is worrying.

The Benefits The results will be used to develop plans for more research and development to improve diagnosis and care for people with heart failure in the areas of GP education, end-of-life care, and care pathways for diagnosis and management.

dr Stephen Wheatcroft University of Leeds / £72,556 - 2 years obesity and cardiovascular disease

The problem Obesity is a major risk factor for heart and circulatory disease and the number of people that are overweight or obese has increased dramatically in recent years. Obesity may be linked to heart disease by long-term damage to blood vessels caused by the release of substances called ‘inflammatory mediators’ from fat deposits.

The project The aim of this project was to investigate whether blocking one of these inflammatory mediators, called TNF-alpha, could improve the health of blood vessels in volunteers with obesity. The volunteers were treated with a dummy pill or a tablet called pentoxifylline - a drug used to treat poor leg circulation but also known to block the effects of TNF-alpha.

The Benefits By carrying out ultrasound scans of the artery in the forearm, the project showed that pentoxifylline improved the health of blood vessels. The treatment also increased the number of cells in the blood stream that can repair damaged blood vessels. These results suggest that pentoxifylline may prevent heart and circulatory diseases in people with obesity.

Completed medical research grantsRead here about the success of some HRUK grants which have now come to an end, including a study of the care that heart failure patients receive and a project which may help to make heart surgery safer.

Clinical research grants

4 Research grants

prof Alistair Hall Leeds General Infirmary and University of Leeds / £139,082 - 2 years A new blood test to identify patients at risk of heart attack

The problem Coronary artery disease is caused by the build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries supplying the heart muscle and can lead to a heart attack. Only about one in four patients attending hospital with symptoms of heart attack will in fact have had one, while the other three will not. This second larger group of patients was the focus of this work, as within this patient group a future threatened heart attack may be missed by the standard tests.

The project The aim was to develop a new blood test, called H-FABP, to measure levels of a particular protein in the blood which has been shown to help in the diagnosis of a threatened heart attack. Blood levels of H-FABP in patients attending hospital with symptoms of heart attack were compared with measurements of coronary artery disease using ultra-fast CT scanning. They found that there was a trend for patients with higher H-FABP levels to have more coronary artery disease.

The Benefits The H-FABP test does have the potential to help with the early detection of heart attacks so that treatment can be started earlier and the project strengthens the case for the use of H-FABP measurement in everyday medical practice.

Mr Bao nguyen National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London / £150,000 - 3 years Making Heart Surgery Safer

The problem During complex heart surgery, patients often need to go on a heart-lung bypass machine, known as a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), which oxygenates the blood and pumps it around the body. In some patients, CPB can trigger the immune system and lead to a severe, whole body ‘inflammatory response’, which can damage the heart, lungs, brain and kidneys causing serious complications and multiple organ failure.

The project This project showed that using a miniaturised bypass machine (mini-CPB) can reduce the activation of the immune system causing less damage to the heart muscle and better blood markers of kidney function. Mini-CPB is already available in the UK and this is evidence that mini-CPB may make heart surgery safer compared to the conventional bypass machine.

The Benefits The research team also found that sulforaphane, which is abundant in green vegetables like broccoli, can prevent inflammatory responses to surgery. This interesting result suggests that dietary changes may protect against complications of CPB during heart surgery.

Translational Research Grant Research Training Fellowship


Novel and Emerging Technologies Grantdr Christopher george Cardiff University / £227,219 - 4 years developing a new technique for testing anti-arrhythmic drugs

The problem Problems with the heart rhythm, called arrhythmias, can result in un-coordinated heart muscle contractions. Cardiac arrhythmias are extremely common and can be treated by drugs known as anti-arrhythmics. However, there is no good system for testing whether anti-arrhythmics will be effective or make things worse.

The project Inside every heart cell, information is transmitted by calcium signals. In heart disease, the organisation of these calcium signals becomes disrupted and normal heart rhythm breaks down. Dr George and his team developed a test that measures these calcium signals in normal and diseased situations. They also studied how anti-arrhythmic drugs interfere with the pattern of the calcium signals, measuring any improvement or breakdown in the signals.

The Benefits We can use this knowledge to begin designing new drugs that do not disrupt the calcium signals. This may lead to new heart drugs that are not only safer, but that will work much more effectively to restore normal heart rhythm in patients.

Congratulations to professor Martin Thornhill of the University of Sheffield - who holds a Heart Research UK grant of £98,000 from money donated by Simplyhealth - and has just won a prestigious award from the American Academy of Oral Medicine for the work he’s doing.

His 12 month HRUK grant is investigating whether certain patients need antibiotic cover when visiting the dentist to protect against infective endocarditis, an infection of the inner lining of the heart.

Now he’s become only the third person ever outside of the United States to win the Samuel Charles Miller Award which recognises outstanding contributions in the field of oral medicine.

6 Research grants

Cardiac imaging techniquesCardiac imaging can provide valuable information about the structure and function of the heart, helping doctors to make a diagnosis, assess the severity of heart disease and predict how it may progress. There have been tremendous advances in cardiac imaging technologies over the last decade or so and here John greenwood, professor of Cardiology at the University of Leeds and Consultant Cardiologist at Leeds general Infirmary, discusses the different techniques available.

echocardiogram (‘echo’) This uses sound waves to give accurate information about the structure and pumping action of the heart. It can be used to diagnose a wide range of heart problems, including heart valve disease and congenital heart disease and its ease of use and safety makes it particularly helpful for diagnosing heart problems in babies and children.

Computed tomography (CT) A CT scan uses x-rays to create 3D images showing the anatomy of the heart. A CT coronary angiogram can show if there is narrowing of the coronary arteries and the CT calcium score measures the build-up of calcium-containing plaques which can occur in coronary artery disease. A disadvantage is that patients are exposed to radiation, though with advances in technology this is much less than previously.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the heart, providing information about its structure and function. It can also assess the blood supply to the heart, can show if the heart’s pumping action is abnormal and assess damage caused by heart attack. It is used for diagnosing a wide range of heart diseases in adults and children.

An advantage of MRI is that it does not use radiation and is considered to be safe. However, it is relatively complex and cannot be used in patients with certain types of pacemaker, defibrillator or other non-fixed metallic implants.

nuclear cardiology In nuclear cardiology, a radioactive tracer is injected into the bloodstream and its uptake by the heart detected with a ‘gamma camera’. These cardiac images help to identify coronary heart disease, prior heart attacks, and can be used to assess the overall function of the heart. It is relatively simple to undertake, but it does involve exposure to a higher dose of radiation than CT.

ReSeARCHFeATURe


Helping Little Hearts AppealRehabilitating Little HeartsCurrently, if an adult suffers a heart attack or is hospitalised because of heart problems, they leave hospital fully informed about the type of diet, exercise and general lifestyle regime they should follow - as well as being offered a full rehabilitation programme - but with youngsters, this rarely happens.

Heart Research UK has funded a project with a team at the University of Exeter and a paediatric cardiologist in Bristol that will give children living with heart problems or have had heart surgery, a rehabilitation toolkit to help them lead healthy, physically-active lives. The toolkit, aimed at youngsters, their families and others who care for them, gives clear recommendations tailored to the child’s needs on what exercise is best for their circumstances, the safe amount to take and advice on healthy eating. Most importantly, it includes an individually-tailored exercise prescription recommended by their cardiologist or other specialist nurse or physiotherapist.

The prescription and toolkit is being piloted at four paediatric cardiac centres in Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham and Leeds. Feedback from families and evaluation by healthcare professionals will then be used to perfect the toolkit ready for Heart Research UK to pay for its roll out to the specialist centres across the UK who would like to offer it to their youngsters and parents.

Heart Research UK has already invested over £50,000 on the research. We need £100,000 to achieve our goal. To donate to our Helping Little Hearts Appeal, please ring 0113 234 7474 or click ‘Make a donation’ on www.heartresearch.org.uk

Dominic takes on world record for Helping Little Hearts AppealOur Helping Little Hearts Appeal inspired Dominic Irvine to support us in a big way - attempting to break the world record for travelling the 832 miles between Land’s End and John O’Groats on a tandem and raised money for our appeal in the process.

The 50 hrs, 14 mins and 25 secs record has been held since 1966 by Pete Swinden and John Withers. Dom put his body and mind on the line, with British

trials cyclist Glenn Longland, and were on target until, unfortunately, they had to retire near Carlisle after completing 457 miles.

8 Healthy Hearts feature

We are very proud of Dominic and Glenn. Their grit and determination have helped to bring our goal closer, raising over £10,000 for the Helping Little Hearts Appeal, something that Dom believes will change young lives.

After meeting little Riley Platts (below) he said:

“It really helped me having in my mind someone like Riley to keep me going on the tandem challenge and break the record. I hope the fundraising will also make a difference for Riley and others like him in the future.

A disappointed Dominic said:

“Attempting to break this record seemed a fitting challenge when compared to the substantial effort invested in improving the rehabilitation of young children after heart surgery. Both these efforts pale into comparison to the love, support and resilience that parents of such children demonstrate and the incredible fortitude of the children who in some cases require operation after operation to keep them going.

“I am delighted that our attempt at the record captured the imagination of so many people who then got behind the real purpose of our ride - to raise money for Heart Research UK’s ‘Helping Little Hearts’ campaign. Their generosity enabled us to smash our fundraising target.

“Helping Heart Research UK has been a privilege, meeting the patients whom will benefit from the fundraising was humbling. The record remains unfinished business...watch this space!”

Dom’s fundraising challenge will help people like Yorkshire three-year-olds Imogen Tankard and Riley platts, who have had heart surgery when they were young and are now happy youngsters on the road to recovery. Both children, and others like them, would benefit from a rehabilitation programme, giving them tailor-made information and support that will help them to live happier, healthier and longer lives.

Imogen, above, from West Park, Leeds had an operation at six months to correct a rare heart condition that was making her seriously ill. Mum, Vicky, reckons that research has saved her daughter’s life. Riley, right, from Guiseley, Leeds also has a rare heart condition, truncus arteriosis – where the two main heart arteries are joined together – and, although he is fit and well, will need further operations as he grows older. His mother, Kathryn, said it was important that more research into heart disease was done to help children like Riley.

To read Dom’s blog about his challenge please go to

heartresearch1967.blogspot.co.uk

Healthy Hearts feature 9

Special peopleLinda’s 12 challenges for her dadLinda Wales always wanted to do something special to remember her father, Melvyn, who died of heart disease at the young age of 42, so now that she’s reached that age herself she’s going to take on 12 tough challenges and has set herself a £42,000 fundraising target for three charities, including Heart Research UK.

Starting with an endurance challenge in the Lake District, Linda is aiming to canoe, cycle, hike, climb, run and abseil her way to her fundraising target, doing one challenge per month.

Anyone can sign up to get involved with a challenge or follow Linda’s progress via her blog at:

Amber hands over the proceeds of her effortsSix-year-old Amber Buckle raised nearly £250 for HRUK when she completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks in three consecutive weekends. A very pleased young walker, with her mum, presented a cheque to our National Director Barbara Harpham. Amber of Wortley, finished each peak in less than four hours, taking along her parents Kate and Ben and even Leeds Rhinos mascot Ronnie the Rhino – all to raise funds for Heart Research UK.

www.living-above-the-clouds.com or on Twitter by following @LindaRWales

Raised £231

10 Special people

Sixties Night cashSandra Pointon, Jo Leece and Trish Howell, all from Castleford turned back the clock to raise £1,602 for Heart Research UK. More than 180 people boogied their retro night away with 60s band, Red Rate, and tried their luck at a massive tombola with 365 prizes.

The three chose Heart Research UK as their charity because one of their family had suffered heart problems. Sandra Pointon’s son had also suffered from a heart condition and was treated by HRUK spokesperson and cardiologist, Dr Chris Pepper.

From cold to hot – Geoff does it again

Yorkshire adventurer, Geoff Major, never knows when to stop taking on extreme challenges. He’s now walked across the hottest place on earth just over a year after trekking through one of the coldest parts of the planet.

Geoff, a businessman from Leeds, and 17 others walked the 62 miles across the Sahara Desert over five days in heat of up to 38 degrees centigrade - in stark contrast to a previous challenge when he trekked to the North Pole raising over £18,000 for his charities including Heart Research UK.

This time, we received over £1,170 from the Sahara Trek, and Geoff’s not finished there. In November 2014, he’s going to be trekking the 5,500 metres up Mount Everest to its base camp in another adventure that will live long in the memory.

STop pReSS….. STop pReSS….. STop pReSS….. STop pReSS…..

Watch out in 2015 for Geoff back on the bicycle-built-for-seven on a tour of UK capitals.

Raised £231

Raised

£1,602

Raised £1,170

11Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/heartresearchuk

Special peopleSUBWAY’s Dina scoops special award for her fundraising workWe’ve been working in partnership with SUBWAY® for over five years now, and during that time have funded many healthy heart grants and organised the Family 5K series of events that have been running for the past two summers (see back page).

That is why we decided to have our own Heart Research UK Special Recognition Award to mark some of the fantastic work done by SUBWAY® people across the UK.

The first winner of the award - presented at a SUBWAY® Inspire TUKI Convention - has gone to Dina Patel, a franchisee from Reading, who has raised a staggering £20,500 - £10,000 from a Make A Difference (MAD) ball and a further £10,500 from an auction she ran at the Inspire TUKI convention, sourcing the prizes herself.

Heart Research UK Fundraiser, Lynne Desborough, said everyone agreed that Dina deserved the award.

“This is not just because of the amount raised at the MAD Ball and the auction but because Dina goes the extra mile to make events like this happen.

“It takes such a lot of dedication and hard work to raise money and we would like to thank Dina and all those who helped her to make it possible.”

Others shortlisted for this prestigious award were:

• Healthy Heart grant panel Members Ian dawson and Cheryl Hensley - for their enthusiasm to engage with Healthy Heart Grantees including attendance at project visits and launches and fundraising in store

• Sarah Cockwill - for her dedication to the Charity Committee, spreading the word about the partnership tirelessly amongst colleagues.

• Ritesh Maden - always looking for opportunities to engage his staff in Leicester in fundraising activities.

Yorkshire Bank staff come to the rescueNineteen staff at Yorkshire Bank stepped in when we needed volunteers to fold over 1,000 t-shirts for participants who are running in the HRUK/SUBWAY® Family 5K Fun Days, making short work of what would have been a very long job.

dina patel with Barbara Harpham (centre) and Mike Charest, SUBWAY® Assistant Regional director, europe (left)

12 Special people

Packin’ a punchTwo boxers from two different generations aren’t holding back the punches as Helping Hearts Ambassadors for Heart Research UK - former world light heavyweight boxing champion Paul “Silky” Jones and 20-year-old up and coming young British boxer Tommy Frank, both from Sheffield.

Heart Research UK Ambassadors

In the red cornerSilky, 47, won the world title in 1995 and is keen to reach middle aged men and improve their fitness through his passion - skipping. They are his target because he feels this group are more likely to have a sedentary lifestyle, high blood pressure, poor diet, and obesity - factors that contribute to heart disease. Also, they often don’t listen to messages about looking after their health and changing poor lifestyle habits.

Silky, who is a motivational speaker, says more people could take up skipping and reckons that just 10-15 minutes of skipping a day will help increase the heart rate and is a good warm up for more varied types of exercise. It’s also one of the easiest and best aerobic exercises there is - something he demonstrated at one of our events in Leeds to an admiring city centre crowd.

“I am thrilled to support Heart Research UK, As a world champion boxer, I have always been health conscious and now I’m in my late forties, I am even more aware of my physical health. I work with lots of people promoting activity and I’ve noticed that people tend to think they’re too old to start exercise but really there is no greater time to start exercise. I want to demonstrate that fitness isn’t about the huge changes, it’s about the small ones we make.”

14 Heart Research UK Ambassadors

Heart Research UK Ambassadors

and in the blue cornerTommy Frank is just 20, already one of the country’s best young amateur boxers and has a very personal reason for being an HRUK ambassador. He was born with a hole in the heart and, after an operation to correct it, has never looked back.

Tommy, from Intake, Sheffield, has to be fit to pursue the sport he loves and trains regularly at the Sheffield Boxing Centre where they’ve helped him to become the top young bantamweight fighter in Yorkshire. He’s won the title four times and is in the top 10 in the UK for his weight. It could have all been different without his operation

His ambitions are to win more titles and turn professional, but, now he’s championing our Helping Little Hearts campaign so that all young heart patients leaving hospital, as Tommy did, get the best possible rehabilitation and advice about their lifestyle choices as adults do. He has overcome his heart problem and knows only too well how exercise can help young hearts. “My heart operation allowed me to carry on with my life,” he said. “I had always been fairly active, but getting fit gave me a new lease of life.”

“I just wanted to give something back after the treatment I received and help Heart Research UK as much as I can. It is not easy to know what you can do as a child after heart surgery, so a prescription and toolkit that helps parents to understand this will make a big difference.”

Healthy Heart

grants

see pages 29-35

Fancy doing the great north Run? www.heartresearch.org.uk/events 15

Look what we’ve been up to

our refreshed, easy to use website with all the usual social media links plus news, videos and blogs.

Instagram Heart AuctionThe first ever #InstaHeartAuction turned trinkets and gifts given by ex-partners that had been squashed in the back of a drawer, shoe box or wardrobe gathering dust, into cash donations for Heart Research UK.

The project, developed by McCann London with Reform London and Unit 9, who both donated their time to help support the campaign, made it easy for people to heal broken hearts and help us raise money by doing what they do best: sharing a photo on Instagram and using the hashtag #InstaHeartAuction. Following the success of their first auction on Valentine’s Day, they decided to continue the online marketplace indefinitely.

Taking part is really easy, you just have to Instagram a photo of the unwanted item using the hashtag #InstaHeartAuction and the item is added to the online auction.

Keep an eye on the website and our social media sites to see when the next auctions will be taking place.

Skipping is good for your heartNational Skipping Day was the ideal time to get passers-by joining in with our ambassador, Rugby Super League player, Adrian Purtell, and his Bradford Bulls teammate, Adam Henry, in the impromptu work out led by Skip2bfit’s Dave Gibson to promote the healthy benefits of skipping. Our Lifestyle Officer, Katharine Greathead - who’s an excellent skipper - pointed out that it was not only an activity that most people could do, it is also good for you.

“It’s an easy and inexpensive activity to take up, burning up to 250 calories in 20 minutes and will help tone many parts of your body,” she said. “It’s kinder on the joints than running and can be done virtually anywhere with enough space and height. “

Check out www.heartresearch.org.uk

16 Look what we’ve been up to

We Love the Web What does a digital marketing company do to support its chosen charity? What it does the best - encourage Tech Masters, web-lovers, designers and savvy social media gurus to offer their skills and experience to plough through a website and digital marketing wish list.

We Love the Web, based in Hebden Bridge, asked regional experts in IT, digital media and technology to their Hack Day and give 500 hours for free to help Heart Research UK. National Director, Barbara Harpham, and one of our trustees, Christine Mortimer, who runs her own marketing and PR agency, MCG, went along too and watched experts working for up to eight hours each to come up with solutions to some of our more technical problems.

Thank you to We Love the Web and everyone who took part for being part of this really innovative twist on charitable giving that gave us:

An app for people to follow our events and fundraising

A totaliser to show how much money is being raised from a particular project

A mobile-friendly site to make it easier for people to fundraise for us

A game to show how people can keep a healthy heart

Winner Hartley has a flippin’ good time On a glorious sunny day, Hartley dazzled hundreds of shoppers and local residents in the centre of Lowestoft as he romped to victory in the mascot pancake race. With five other mascots - a bear, bunny, monkey, lion and a frog - hot on his heels at the start, he sizzled away and comfortably reached the finish line, pan and pancake still in hand. Not just content with coming first, Hartley then dropped to the floor to do a set of press-ups - what a fit and healthy heart he is.

Hartley was, in fact, Rob Fawcett in disguise. Rob is the Healthy Heart Advisor at the Access Community Trust and, thanks to a HRUK and SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grant, is helping local homeless, socially excluded, disadvantaged people to make positive lifestyle choices.

Hartley’s exploits didn’t end in Lowestoft. He was next seen at Wetherby Racecourse where he competed in the annual Mascot Race along with 80 other mascots.

Last year 18-year-old Keighley heart patient Josh Hudson, who suffers from a rare heart condition, raced as Hartley. This time his father, dave, very kindly donned our mascot costume and raised nearly £200. Our thanks go to both father and son for their continued support and efforts.

Midlands

activities

see pages 23-26

For more people stories www.heartresearch.org.uk 17

Company HelpGoing global with EmeraldBingley-based global publisher, Emerald Group Publishing, has chosen Heart Research UK as it’s charity of the year because its staff want to help fund more research into heart disease. The company has over 300 staff worldwide and all are keen to get involved with payroll giving, raffles, auctions and, for the more energetic, sporting competitions and events throughout 2014. Their auction was especially successful raising £2,944

Emma Stevenson, who is part of Emerald’s Charity Committee, said: “Heart Research UK is a charity very close to my family therefore I will personally be encouraging staff to take part in a range of activities to help boost our targets.”

Bristol-based Research Media Ltd, part of the Emerald Group Publishing, has its own fundraising plan for supporting Heart Research UK - a cake sale and raffle has already raised over £150 - while other events include staff taking part in the Bristol 10k, cycling to work or car sharing during Bristol Big Green Week and holding a Picnic in the Park event.

What it raises will go towards research and community projects, including our Helping Little Hearts campaign that will help people live healthier, happier, longer lives.

Love Your PyjamasOur relationship with Damart with its “Love your heart” campaign stretches back seven years. This year, the company’s staff has designed a set of limited edition heart-branded, 100% cotton pyjamas with £5 from each set going to Heart Research UK.

The pyjamas are priced at just £25, with all money raised from the sales used in our work to fund pioneering research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease, the biggest killer among women in the UK.

Damart’s Marketing and E-Commerce Director, Phil Anderson is delighted to be working with Heart Research UK for the seventh year. “We hope not only to raise as much money as possible for research with these Valentine’s pyjamas, but also to increase awareness about the disease in order to help our customers, staff and women around the UK look after their hearts.”

Priced at just £25, the pyjama set comes in sizes 10-28. To order your pyjama set please call Damart on 0871 882 1111.

18 Support from companies

Simplyhealth sends Sharron to schoolHeart Research UK has a dedicated Schools Speaker Co-ordinator, Sharron Bright, thanks to healthcare provider, Simplyhealth’s £150,000 donation from “Likes” to their Facebook page campaign. The bulk of the money raised went on a project at the University of Sheffield to examine the links between dental health and heart disease and the use of antibiotics in dental surgery.

The remainder was set aside for Heart Research UK to go into primary schools in Leeds, Winchester, Andover, Bristol and Manchester and talk about the importance of heart and dental health.

Sharron is really excited about the programme because it covers many of the areas of study that schools deliver and will reinforce the good lifestyle habits that children should pick up at an early age.

Mark Cahill, a Key Stage 2, said: “The presentation was so engaging and really wowed our staff and children. Sharron was amazing! It was an excellent thought-provoking assembly-the best seen yet!”

Simplyhealth is just as delighted to see that their donation continues to provide Heart Research UK with the ability to educate more people on the importance of gum and heart health.

Any schools interested in hosting a session should contact Sharron Bright on 0113 297 6214 or e-mail her at [email protected]

All-time high for Caravan GuardSince 2009, caravan and motorhome insurance provider, Caravan Guard, has exceeded expectations year-on-year with its £1 donation for every time a customer chooses to have their insurance documents sent online. It has been so successful that it has now raised a huge £22,943 for Heart Research UK.

Our Lifestyle Officer, Katharine Greathead, and Income Development Manager, Brian Curran, are pictured at the company’s offices in Halifax with Caravan Guard Director, Sally Wilby, and Head of Development, Neil Menzies, receiving the cheque.

“The success of Paperless Policies is phenomenal,” said Sally. “To have raised almost £23,000 for a charity that’s so close to the hearts of people is a huge achievement and we’re immensely proud.”

Katharine Greathead of HRUK said: “Not only is it good for the environment but great for hearts too enabling Heart Research UK to continue helping hearts in Yorkshire and across the country.”

Visit www.caravanguard.co.uk for more information

19Join our Healthy Heart Mark scheme – call 0113 297 6206

Company Help

Leeds banking staff put their hearts into charity challenge

Staff at the eleven Barclays Bank branches in Leeds city centre have adopted us as their charity partner through team leader, Lee Desborough, whose 90-year-old grandfather, Les, firmly believes his life was extended because of research into heart disease. He had an operation on his mitral valve in 1969, following a stroke caused by the faulty valve, at a time when new techniques to treat heart conditions like valve problems were still being developed.

He’s had to deal with other life-threatening illnesses like cancer of the thyroid and kidney as well as having two replacement hips, but has overcome everything that’s been thrown at him.

Now grandson Lee and the teams at Barclays are set to raise up to £20,000 with an “It’s A Knockout” event and a Barclays team in the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge as well supporting our Sing for Your Heart event - all matched funded from Barclays.

Healthy workers are happy workersThe Heart Research UK Healthy Heart Mark scheme recognises employers’ efforts to improve the wellbeing of employees by implementing health initiatives at work.

Healthy workers should lead to happy and productive workers and those at UK Asset Resolution (UKAR), the holding company for Bradford & Bingley (B&B) and Northern Rock Asset Management (NRAM); Christeyns UK, who specialise in the industrial chemicals market and Drax Power Limited, were all recognised by Heart Research UK for going the extra mile.

To gain gold, UKAR introduced a programme of health and lifestyle initiatives for staff at both its sites in Crossflatts (West Yorkshire) and Doxford (Sunderland), to support them in making healthy choices in diet, exercise and encouraging others to follow healthier living.

Christeyns won their gold award by spreading key healthy heart messages and holding various events and challenges. With the support of staff, they incorporated non-smoking days and awareness seminars into their busy work days.

Drax Power Limited has been given the silver award for their efforts in keeping staff aware of the heart healthy message. They have held various healthy days including ‘Fruit Friday’ and introducing oily fish into the restaurant.

To find out how you could be a Healthy Heart employer, call 0113 297 6206.

HRUK Chairman of Trustees, Richard Hemsley, with winners and HRUK staff

If your company wants to fundraise for Heart Research UK then please get in touch with our fundraising team on 0113 234 7474 or e-mail [email protected]

20 Support from companies

eventsHRUK

Run, walk, sing for your heartOur Virgin London Marathon runners We were delighted to meet some of our Virgin London Marathon runners after they completed the gruelling 26.2 miles event, each with their own story to tell and many with personal reasons for tackling the course for us.

People like Canary Wharf worker Stefano Toffolo who was running in memory of his late father, Franco, who died of a heart attack last year. Stefano, who is 50 and a managing director of Credit Suisse, had only just completed the Brighton Marathon the week before so it was a tremendous feat to get round the London event as well. He’s already raised over £8,000 - a fantastic sum - to be shared with us at Heart Research UK and Dementia UK, another charity close to his heart.

Roxanne Zarpak: Bexley, Kent: over £1,800 Took part in memory of her grandfather, Lenny Gardner, who died of a heart attack. The 24-year-old commented: “I wouldn’t have been able to get round the 26.2 miles had it not have been for a great cause that is very close to my heart. Raising money for Heart Research UK and running the London Marathon in memory of my grandad is an experience I will never forget.”

Robyn Jeffery, 25: Hornchurch, essex: over £2,600 Ran in memory of her grandmother who died of heart problems last year. “The charity has been fantastic, always helping me if I needed something. It was a rock supporting me if my head ever dipped or I ever felt tired.”

danny Meakin, 33: Westhoughton, Bolton: over £2,000 Completed the event after his father Alan survived a heart attack last year at the age of 57. “I’m really happy to have exceeded the target for fundraising and have been humbled and so grateful for so many people to get behind fund raising for Heart Research UK.”

Katherine McFadzean: Higham, Barnsley: £700 Katherine is a police officer who completed the Great North Run for HRUK a couple of years ago and was running after her father John had successful open heart surgery. She says the marathon is the hardest thing she’s ever done. “ After 26.2 miles I finished with the best feeling and it made it all worthwhile knowing I’ve raised money for such a fantastic cause.”

We’re very grateful to ALL of our Virgin London Marathon runners who have once again done us so proud. If you would like to run for Heart Research UK in next year’s event, ring Lynne on 0113 297 6202.

Roxanne Robyn danny Stefano

21Interested? For details visit www.heartresearch.org.uk/events

HRUK in the Midlands

ThanksGet into the festive spirit with Sing for Your Heart

Sing for Your Heart 2014 eventsHRUK

It’s never too early to start planning for one of our biggest fundraising events of the year.

Singing together is good for you, too. It is an aerobic activity that increases blood oxygen and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, but don’t just take our word for it. Julie Smethurst of the Sheffield Philharmonic Chorus says her group loves taking part each year. “We not only get to see the joy on the faces of commuters who stop to listen, but we also appreciate the great importance of Heart Research UK’s work.”

Carol Cox of the Vaughan Singers in Sutton Coldfield said they always get a warm welcome when they sing in The Mall. “The singers very much enjoyed taking part and really got into the Christmas spirit, raising funds for a very worthwhile cause.”

If you fancy singing for your heart this year, please contact Claire Priestwood now on 0113 297 6212 or e-mail her on [email protected]

The Ukelele Stars performing in Leeds Victoria Quarter

22 HRUK events



Motown evening raises £900 Dynamic singer, Roy G Hemmings, formerly of the original Drifters, put on an extraordinary performance for 150 guests at ‘An evening of Motown’ event at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham. The evening featured fantastic live music with all the Motown hits from the 1960s performed by Roy along with The Love Supremes and The Dictionary of Soul Band.

The event was organised by Gem Magazine, and Heart Research UK in the Midlands was chosen as the recipient charity to host a raffle at the event which raised a brilliant £900, which will be used to fund local projects in the Midlands Region.

ThanksThank YouWe’re grateful for the very generous donations in memory of loved ones:

£400 Laura Bailey, grandmother of Midlands volunteer Melissa elders

£183 Mark Robert Arthur

£60 Kathleen Morris

£15 david Farmer

£125 Andrew Wilshaw

£25 doreen Collingwood

Also, our thanks go to the following for the donations they have made to Heart Research UK:

£1,310 Barry and Maria Sawbridge - Christmas grotto and lights

£1,000 Mark Hopton, via Richard Usmar - premier planning

£654 Waitrose Four oaks, Sutton Coldfield - Community Matters

£120 direct donation from great Midlands Fun Run

£94 South Birmingham College - Christmas card Sale

£30 Anonymous donation

HRUK in the Midlands 23



Pacific Nurseries do us proud in the Midlands

Andrew Marshall’s heart and soul for HRUKAndrew has been doing some fantastic fundraising through Ethan’s Gift for Heart Research UK in the Midlands. The fund is a memorial to his son Ethan who sadly died, aged three, from heart problems. Since the start of the year, Andrew’s fundraising has seen him taking part in a vintage fair and organising raffles, as well as acting as the main organiser for the increasingly popular Heart & Soul Nights that have now become a regular fixture. By mid-2014, he had raised a fantastic £2,336 and with the biggest Heart and Soul Night yet at the Irish Centre, Digbeth, Birmingham before the end of the year, as well as another smaller Heart and Soul event in September at C.O.B.S in Birmingham, he is on the way for a record year.

Our friends at Pacific Nurseries in Streetly, Birmingham, chose HRUK as their charity this year and have already done a great job in raising money, holding a series of events with their customers.

Easter saw a fun Easter Egg hunt around the

nurseries organised by owner, Peter Beharrell and his wife Jane, and then there was what must be a record-breaking grand Easter Egg prize draw which raised an amazing £628. The Heart Research UK team from the Midlands also spent the day at Pacific Nurseries offering customers and staff free blood pressure checks and healthy heart advice and leaflets throughout the day which raised £170.

Other events included a charity car wash organised by young fundraiser, Freddie Beharrell, the owner’s son. Exhausted after his fundraiser, Freddie washed his way to a fantastic £230 for Heart Research UK in the Midlands.

In the pipeline is an Evening Concert featuring choirs ‘The Half Circle Singers and ‘Kaleidoscope’ and singer, Lauren Alexandra, as well as a cheese, wine and art evening to include the works of HRUK supporter artist, Sue Howells.

Andrew and wife Julie with ethan

Raised

£2,336

Raised

£628 Raised

£230

HRUK in the Midlands24


Date for your diaryPacific Nurseries will also be the venue for one of our annual Sing for Your Heart events in the run up to Christmas.

The Half Circle Singers will be back by popular demand after a fantastic performance for the shoppers which last year raised £430.

As Michael Pyke said: “The Half Circle Singers thoroughly enjoyed singing for Heart Research UK in the Midlands at Pacific Nurseries and would be more than happy to take part again in 2014.”

Last year, our friends at Pacific Nurseries very kindly added £417, proceeds from the £3 they donated from every tree sold over the December weekend that the choir performed.

Sing for your Heart events take place all over the Midlands. If you want to make your Christmas special with a Sing for Your Heart event or organise your own event then please call us on: 0121 454 1799

Bag packers help out at Waitrose, HarborneBag packing is an important fundraiser for Heart Research UK as it not only helps fund our work but is a great way for us to meet the public too. This time around, we were pleased to be joined by volunteers, Boris Whybrow and his friends, Caroline and Thom, who were keen to get involved not just in the bag packing but also in bringing large groups of people together to volunteer at other similar events, a great boost for our charity.

A big thank you also to the store manager, Simon Whitmore, who once again allowed our team of Midland staff and volunteers to pack bags, and thanks to Waitrose customers too, who helped us raise a fantastic £500 from the day.

Raised

£500

Raised

£417

Contact our Midlands office on 0121 454 1799 25

Phoenix business lunch in BirminghamHeart Research UK in the Midlands had the privilege of hosting Birmingham’s popular networking event, The Phoenix Lunch Club, at the Hilton Garden Inn, Birmingham. The lunch gets local businesses and entrepreneurs together and is one of the longest running networking business clubs in the city. It was not just an enjoyable event, it also gave Heart Research UK the opportunity to introduce the charity and raise awareness of the work we do in the Midlands region particularly, as well as encouraging corporate partnerships.

Pamper evening helps support HRUK in the Midlands

Pictured (L-R:) Dean Lake, Tessa Rhodes, David Cox, Brian Manley Green, Charlotte Timson

Heart Research UK in the Midlands, in association with Clarke Willmott Solicitors, hosted a very special ‘Ladies Networking and Pamper Evening’ at the Hilton Garden Inn, Brunswick Place, Birmingham which raised over £550.

Guests were treated to a complimentary glass of wine upon arrival, courtesy of Clarke Willmott, as well as an array of carefully selected exhibitors including Estee Lauder, Un Mundo clothing, Forever living Aloe products, Devere and company Wine Tasting to name a few.

A special thank you goes to Debi Gross and staff at the Hilton Garden Inn, who provided first class service and very kindly donated a raffle prize as well as refreshments during the evening. We would also like to thank all of the exhibitors for helping to make the evening so enjoyable and for their raffle prize donations. Thanks to all of the guests who attended who contributed to a successful evening. We’re hoping to run another similar event in November 2014.

Sheila Kelly-Trow of gem Media

Raised

£550

26 HRUK in the Midlands

Fundraising for Heart Research UKHelping Little Hearts with our Treasure Chest AppealIt’s not gold for cash or diamonds for dough. We can recycle all your forgotten, unused, damaged or broken jewellery - even odd earrings, cufflinks and broken watches - and pay for pioneering medical research or help people live healthier, happier, longer lives.

Our Treasure Chest Appeal is a quick and easy way to support Heart Research UK without asking for money. We send you our distinctive envelopes and you ask all your family and friends to fill them. You could give them out to colleagues if where you work would let you, or the club you belong to might also want to help out.

Bonham’s Auctioneers very kindly auction all your unwanted jewellery and Beaverbrook’s very kindly sponsor our collection envelopes so that the maximum amount raised comes directly to us.

emmerdale star Verity Rushworth helped give a boost to one company’s Treasure Chest efforts. The actress who plays donna Windsor in the TV soap helped Leeds Building Society launch their campaign to support our appeal.

To get your envelopes, please contact Claire in the fundraising team on 0113 234 7474 or email [email protected]

Any spare time?Are you looking for something to do or would like another interest? You could become a Heart Research UK volunteer.

Our team is raring to go and just waiting for you to get in touch. There’s plenty of things you could do:

• collections in supermarkets or city centres

• placing and looking after our collecting cans

• organise an event for us - a coffee morning, cake sale, fire walk, raffle

• enter a local run, cycle or walk

• become an Ambassador

• enhance your CV

…or come up with your own idea. Whatever you choose, our friendly, helpful team will be there all the way with advice, resources and encouragement.

Brian Curran, Heart Research UK’s new Income Development Manager is looking forward to welcoming new volunteers. “They are at the heart of all we do. The more volunteers we have, the more money we can raise; the more our profile will be raised and, more importantly, the more hearts we’ll be helping near you. Just ring 0113 234 7474”

27Fundraising

Fundraising for Heart Research UKNominate us as your chosen charityWe’re grateful for all of those companies and businesses who have decided to support us, many of which chose our charity through a nomination and voting system.

Will you nominate Heart Research UK to be your company’s charity?

You may also know the next president of clubs like Rotary , Round Table, Lions, Inner Wheel or Women’s Institute. Will you ask them to support us in their presidential year?

We would also like to hear from any captains of golf clubs who might want to nominate us as their chosen charity. We’ve had many successful partnerships with golf clubs in the past.

In return we’ll support you all along the way with fundraising ideas, help with events, and important publicity to raise your profile.

For more information talk to Brian Curran on 0113 297 6204 or e-mail him on: [email protected]

Why not organise an event for us?Roxanne Zarpak ran for Heart Research UK in this year’s Virgin London Marathon (see page 21). As part of her fundraising, she organised a quiz night and raised over £900 towards the £1,800 she collected in sponsorship overall.

How you can help us Whether it is a bake sale, coffee morning, sponsored walk or black tie ball, you will be helping us to continue our important work in the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

Our fundraising team are always available to offer support and advice should you wish to raise money for us, and would love to hear from you.

Contact them on: 0113 297 6212 and ask for Claire or Lynne or e-mail: [email protected]

Quiz nightBake sale

28 Fundraising

Fundraising for Heart Research UK‘Heart Smart’, BuryDisabled people are more likely to be inactive and prone to obesity and other risk factors, so to help address this Jigsaw, a charity based in Bury, designed an exciting heart-focused programme of activities for young disabled people.

With shopping trips (a first for many), cooking sessions, Heart-Art workshops, quizzes and health walks, there were plenty of opportunities to learn and maintain a healthy lifestyle independently.

Linking up with other health professionals, young people were able to see how their lifestyle and measurements could have an impact on their heart later in life. Some started to keep food diaries, others exercised more and many improved their health MOT scores. One person even dropped four BMI points by the end of the project to reach the ideal BMI category.

In all, over 100 young adults, family members, carers, group leaders and volunteers were encouraged to make positive lifestyle changes and take care of their hearts, and Jigsaw are now building on the great foundations of the Heart Smart project, adding an intergenerational and cross-cultural element, offering regular cooking sessions on healthy eating from around the world and making health walks a permanent feature of the Jigsaw calendar.

‘Northern Star’s Healthy Hearts’, SolihullPeople with learning disabilities are four times more likely to have poor mental health and are also more at risk of heart disease.

This is why Northern Star Community Arts set up a programme of learning and accessible activities with almost 40 people making lifestyle changes and gaining independence and confidence in meeting new people, trying new tastes and being involved with the community.

Participants’ were encouraged to set their own goals around keeping their hearts healthy, in light of their own specific needs. They completed mood charts and self-evaluation questionnaires after each session, and feedback showed they’d absorbed the information given although it took time and patience due to their limited concentration. Some are now taking regular exercise (one person has taken up fencing), their intake of takeaway food has dropped dramatically after the health and cost issues were discussed and all have increased their fruit and veg intake.

This HHG has highlighted Northern Star’s successful work in the community and how the learning about the heart permeates the Northern Star Centre.

Healthy Heart grant Update

29To apply for a grant visit www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants

We continue to receive many applications from across the country. Here are those grants selected in our November round.

Latest HRUK Healthy Heart grants

Bolton - Bolton Wanderers Community Trust“Wanderers Pulse of the Community”, £10,000

The Heart of Football project, built on the experience of a previous HRUK and SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grant, will be taken to seven to 14 year olds in primary and secondary schools, in areas with a higher proportion of BME residents or social deprivation. A series of workshops on the heart and heart disease, the importance of exercise, the dangers of smoking (including Shisha and chewing tobacco) and eating more heart-friendly foods will be followed by an hour of physical activity to include Street 20 cricket, circuits and mini football.

Milton Keynes - MK dons, Sport and education Trust“Get Onside 4 a Healthy Heart”, £6,120

Nine to 11 year olds in 10 primary schools from areas of Milton Keynes with high levels of obesity will board the ‘Dons on Tour’ bus to get them looking after their hearts by eating healthily, exercising and setting goals. They’ll get their hearts beating faster on watt bikes, play games that reinforce the Healthy Heart message and record their daily step count using a pedometer for a month as part of a ‘Pedathon’ competition to win match day tickets.

Birmingham - The Richard d Wright Memorial Fund“Young Hearts”, £9,920

Creative dance and drama workshops, cooking activities and a skills carousel that includes rock climbing and archery will provide a platform to inspire 50 local young people aged six to 11 to get fitter and lead healthier lifestyles for a healthier heart. These sessions will be run as part of after-school and holiday clubs in the Soho Ward of Birmingham, targeting children with weight issues. A final performance will be held to showcase the learning.

30 Healthy Hearts

Colchester, Hythe Community Centre Association“Healthy Hearts for Kids”, £7,460

Free fun fitness classes will see around 800 children aged two to 11 exercising more and learning how to look after their heart in four community centres in Colchester. Activities such as skipping, running and sports day type races, as well as heart-themed games and songs will help under-fives and primary school children to improve their motor skills, self-confidence and learn about healthy lifestyle choices. Families will be shown how they can exercise at home without expensive equipment.

London, empowering Families“Babies and Toddlers”, £2,220

Good eating habits and encouraging exercise as play will be promoted at two Parent Toddlers and Babies groups in Brent’s most deprived wards where over 85% of parent’s first language isn’t English. During each session, group leaders will pass on the Healthy Heart message through small discussion groups and run a mini ‘Olympics’ to get young ones more active. Over 80 children and their parents will learn how to care for their hearts from an early age through this project.

newcastle, newcastle upon Tyne YMCA“Love Your Heart Part II”, £2,920

Building on the success of their previous grant, young mums and their children will join in weekly fitness classes and discussion groups about healthy eating, smoking, drugs and alcohol. These ‘mini boot camps’ will be run by a YMCA Fitness Instructor and Youth Worker at different, accessible venues to make the programme more appealing, such as a gym, the beach, a local park and swimming pool. Over 20 mums and kids will have some heart-healthy fun and look to make long-term lifestyle changes to support their hearts.

Join our Lay PanelAre you interested in community projects that promote heart-healthy lifestyles? Would you like to join our Lay Panel and help score a dozen pre-selected applications twice a year? For more information, please contact the Lifestyle team on0113 297 6206 or 0113 297 6213

31To apply for a grant visit www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development Trust - ‘ICT Healthy Hearts School Visits’ - Inverness When it comes to hard-to-reach areas of the country then the Scottish Highlands are among the most remote.

Over three school terms, Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community Development Trust took an exciting programme of heart-healthy activities to primary schools in Inverness and beyond to inspire young girls and boys to exercise more and take care of their hearts.

Thanks to additional funding the target was exceeded with 57 primary schools and 1,400 pupils taking part in all events.

Over four weeks, pupils got their hearts beating faster through ‘footworx’, exercise sessions that are done to music and based on the basic body movement patterns during a game of football (the choice of music is key to motivating the class).

The respect and admiration of coaches and players within the community clearly helped to captivate the pupils’ interest in heart health.

All pupils completed Heart Health and fitness diaries at home to track their physical activity levels and eating habits which showed how poor some of the children’s diets were.

Pupils got to ‘tune into’ their hearts by using finger heart rate monitors to record their resting heart rates, heart rate during activity and the time taken to get their heart rates to resting levels.

HRUK & SUBWAY® Heart grants

“This was magnificent and one of the best sport inputs I have come across in my career. The equipment, music and heart rate monitors all contributed to the excitement and enthusiasm that each child took into the sessions each week.” Headteacher, Beauly Primary School.

Caly Thistle player Gary Warren with children Ellie and Heather

32 HRUK & SUBWAY® healthy heart grants

HRUK & SUBWAY® Heart grants Case Study - Mount Pleasant Primary School, WickMount Pleasant Primary School is located in the far north of Scotland and has a school roll of 177. Inverness Caledonian Thistle’s Community Development Trust delivered a four week block to the Primary 7 class (28 pupils) with the sessions including information about how to lead a healthy lifestyle. Pupils were asked to complete their log books to provide evidence that they were taking the message on board and it was encouraging to see from these that in times of fast paced lifestyles, the children were walking to school, taking part in other sports out of school times, playing with friends and attending youth clubs.

The children steadily improved their fitness levels over the four week block, and increased their knowledge and understanding of leading a heart-healthy lifestyle. They were disappointed when the programme finished and clearly wanted it to continue. The teacher also said that this was a very worthwhile input to class time, as they completed the log books and it made them think about their weekly health and exercise prompting discussion in class

Olympic medallist drops by Olympic bronze medallist Anthony Ogogo, was the surprise star guest at the launch of Access Community Trust’s £5,000 HHG to help disadvantaged communities in Lowestoft. It was a great way for an Olympic athlete – who is also a SUBWAY® famous fan - to show his support for a heart-healthy lifestyle and to meet everyone at the Bridge View Information and Advice Centre in Waveney, Suffolk.

The year-long programme will be focussing on increasing preventative measures such as exercise and healthy eating through education and health checks with Healthy Heart advisor Rob Fawcett.

Rob was on hand to talk to Anthony and the centre users at the event about the project, before giving the local boxer a quick blood pressure check – and the results showed that everything was working perfectly. (see Rob’s success as our Hartley mascot – page 17.)

3333HRUK & SUBWAY® healthy heart grants

HRUK & SUBWAY® Heart grants Recently awarded HRUK and SUBWAY® HHgsWe are in our fourth year of awarding these grants, made possible thanks to money raised in SUBWAY® stores and fundraising events run by store franchisees. Here are the latest grants awarded.

Scotland

Inverness Caledonian Thistle Community development Trust - ‘ICT Healthy Hearts School Visits’ - Inverness, £10,000

Building on the success of their first Healthy Heart Grant (see Page 32-33), Craig Masterton and his team will now take the heart-healthy message to another 80 rural primary schools throughout the Highlands. The fun and popular ‘footworx’

sessions, will help them work on their fitness, agility, flexibility and strength. Another 1,500 pupils will be involved, including completing Heart Health diaries at home to track their physical activity levels and healthy eating habits.

West Country

plymouth Raiders Foundation - ‘Healthy Hoops & Hearts’ - plymouth, £9,950

Professional basketball players will deliver a roadshow to 1,000 eight to 11 year olds from primary schools in deprived areas of Plymouth focusing on their hearts and being inspired to make healthier lifestyle choices. They will benefit from six weeks of basketball coaching, the opportunity to take part in a tournament at City College Plymouth and work through a booklet full of fun, informative activities and a food diary to highlight any unhealthy habits that need “slam dunking” for a healthier heart.

Wales

port Talbot Community Sports Ltd - ‘Heart in Hand’ - port Talbot, £8,260

A new project at the Port Talbot Community Sports will work with 10 local youth clubs in Neath Port Talbot to inspire teenagers to lead heart-healthier lifestyles through workshops on the heart and the impact of diet, exercise, smoking, drugs and alcohol. These will be followed by football coaching, Tag rugby, Kwik cricket and other sports. The aim is to get 160 youngsters to sign up to a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Craig Masterton of ICTCT and Liam Dalgarno from SUBWAY®

34 HRUK & SUBWAY® healthy heart grants

HRUK & SUBWAY® Heart grants

HTV region

Cheltenham Town Community, education & Sporting Trust - ‘Score Yourself a Healthy Heart’ - Cheltenham, £9,363

This heart-focused five week programme will see pupils from 20 primary schools in Gloucestershire learning about their hearts and healthy lifestyle habits and getting their hearts beating faster during Futsal (small sided football games) and exercise sessions. Over 1,200 nine to 11 year olds will be involved and each child will receive a free Cheltenham Town FC season ticket.

granada region

Big Heritage CIC - ‘Heart of gladiator’ - Bromborough, £8,280

This innovative project will see young people with special needs get excited about keeping healthy, eating well and having a heart ‘as strong as a gladiator’. A team of qualified nutritionists and fitness trainers will create fun, physical activities based on the training regimes of Roman gladiators and explore the Roman diet which was whole-grain, non-processed and packed with fruit and vegetables.

Central region

Cricket derbyshire Community Foundation - ‘The Heart of Cricket’ - derby, £9,154

Over 1,000 pupils from 20 primary schools in and around Derby, where there is a high proportion of BME groups, are set to be bowled over by this programme that will show them how eating healthily and being active are key for a healthy heart. They’ll get their hearts beating faster through cricket based coaching and activities such as ‘Kwik Cricket’, ‘non-stop’ and ‘continuous cricket’.

HRUK & SUBWAY® Heart grants Wales

The Racecourse Community Foundation - ‘Heart Life’ - Wrexham, £7,000

Over 600 eight to 10 year olds in Denbighshire primary schools will be learning about their heart, healthy eating and cooking, the importance of exercise and the negative effects of smoking, drugs and alcohol. They will then work on their fitness through a range of fun, individual challenges and team activities, culminating in a football tournament at the end of the programme.

Cheltenham captain Steve Elliott with two Brockworth Primary Academy pupils

For more information www.heartresearch.org.uk 35

Fancy having a lovely family fun day out at a place near you? Look no further than the UK-wide SUBWAY® Helping Hearts Family 5k events running throughout summer 2014.

Following the success of events in Leeds, Maidstone, Lanarkshire, Cardiff, Belfast, and Manchester, this year there are 11 events open to all ages and abilities, participants to walk, run or push their way around courses across the country to help raise money for Heart Research UK and SUBWAY® Healthy Heart community grants near you.

With kids under-12 going free, and early bird registrations for the rest of the family at just £5.99 each, it’s the perfect day out for the whole family to enjoy. Everyone who takes part will receive:

A FRee T-Shirt

A FRee SUBWAY To go!™ lunch

A FRee goody Bag

FRee Family entertainment

Join our SUBWAY® Helping Hearts Family 5Ks

SUBWAY® Helping Hearts Family 5Ks are taking place in:Saltwell Park, Gateshead; Bute Park, Cardiff; Victoria Park, London; Holyrood Park, Edinburgh; Heaton Park, Manchester; Strathclyde Park, Lanarkshire; South Downs, Bristol; Roundhay Park, Leeds; Ormeau Park, Belfast; Endcliffe Park, Sheffield; Stanley Park, Blackpool

Please go to heartresearch.org.uk/events/subwayfamily5k

All sponsorship money raised across the 12 events will go towards funding the Heart Research UK and SUBWAY® Healthy Heart grant scheme – see pages 32-35 for recent examples.

Heart Research UK, Suite 12D, Joseph’s Well, Leeds LS3 1AB or call 0113 234 7474 Fax: 0113 297 6208Email: [email protected] Website: www.heartresearch.org.uk

Thanks to our partners

Registered Charity No. 1044821 Registered Office: Suite 12D, Joseph’s Well, Leeds LS3 1AB Company limited by guarantee No. 3026813 Registered in England.

HRUK Pulse Spring Summer 2014

Documents

Transcript of HRUK Pulse Spring Summer 2014