 Love your town, now love your heart Christchurch
~ Christchurch signs up as one of the first Heart Towns in the UK ~
Christchurch has become one of the first places in the UK to wear its heart on its sleeve and sign up today, Tuesday, March 1st, 2011, as a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heart Town.
Christchurch Borough Council has teamed up with the BHF to help put the heart into Christchurch as part of the charity’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal which has been launched to mark its 50th anniversary this year.
Heart Towns are a brand new initiative from the nation’s heart charity, bringing communities together through local fundraising and volunteering as well as helping to raise awareness of heart disease. It offers residents a raft of support services including schools initiatives, workplace health guidance and lifestyle information resources.
Speaking at the launch of Christchurch Heart Town at the Committee Room, Christchurch Borough Council, today (1 March), Neil Jarrett, BHF Fundraising Volunteer Manager in Christchurch says:
“We are delighted that Christchurch Borough Council has decided to become a Heart Town. Local people can get involved in the many activities and events that will happen throughout the year, details of these will be announced over the coming weeks. We will be working with the Christchurch community to raise awareness of heart disease and raise money for the BHF’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal. Please get involved and pledge your support today.”
The BHF is aiming for as many towns and cities across the UK to sign up and become a Heart Town, to help the growing issue of heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer.
The Mayor of Christchurch, Cllr Nick Geary, explains why the town has joined this initiative: “Christchurch is very pleased to support the Heart Town Initiative by becoming one of the country’s first Heart Towns. The concept of the Heart Town fits very well with the Fit Christchurch initiative we’ve been running with Christchurch Community Partnership for the past two years. By encouraging people to take more exercise we hope to be able to prevent heart disease. I do hope that our residents will also get behind the BHF’s Mending Hearts Appeal.”
The Mending Broken Hearts Appeal is the biggest ever fundraising appeal ever launched in the BHF’s history. The goal is simple: to fund the research that could begin to ‘mend broken hearts’ in as little as 10 years and save and improve the lives of millions within decades.
There is no cure for a broken heart. This ground-breaking research can change that and help researchers learn how to teach the heart to ‘heal itself’.
In order to do this the charity needs to spend £50 million on the research to repair damaged hearts. The hope is, if it can get the money, it could be funding trials with heart failure patients in as little as five years. That’s why Christchurch’s support is so vital.
Every person in Christchurch really can make a difference and help give hope to millions. You can do almost anything you like! Volunteer your time, buy the BHF’s great new products, donate much-needed funds or even get on your bike. Whoever you are, there’s a way for you to get involved and give hope. Photo shows (from left) Bob Gilbertson, chairman of Christchurch Community Partnership, mayoress Gillian Geary, mayor Cllr Nick Geary, Zoe Nicholson and Neil Jarrett, both Fundraising and Volunteer Managers from British Heart Foundation. Visit bhf.org.uk/hearttowns or call your local Fundraising Volunteer Manager, Neil Jarrett on 07879 480835 or email
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. About the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal:In its 50th year the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is launching its most ambitious project ever - the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal to help beat the UK’s biggest killer. The goal is simple: to fund the research that could begin to ‘mend broken hearts’ in as little as 10 years and save and improve the lives of millions within decades. Join the BHF and help raise funds to give hope to millions bhf.org.uk/mbh
About the BHF:The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease – the UK’s biggest killer. The Charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and care. For more information on the BHF, visit www.bhf.org.uk |
