heart research uk pulse spring summer 2016

pulseSpring/Summer 2016

Helping hearts near you

Inside this issueFocus on ‘half a heart’

Aortic dissection feature

Helping Little Hearts

Heart healthy companies

Heart Research UK in the Midlands

New Healthy Heart Checks

Lifestyle

MEDICAL RESEARCH Research on the importance of exercise and the heartHelping children’s hearts in Birmingham

Children’s heart surgeon, David Barron, works with babies and children born with ‘half a heart’ at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. This has led him to look more closely at how these children and their families can be better supported.

Around 350 – 400 babies are born every year with a single ventricle heart condition – ‘half a heart’. This is where only the left or right side of the heart has developed properly and is one of the most common heart defects present at birth. The left side of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body and the right side pumps oxygen-depleted blood to the lungs. The majority of children born with this condition have hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). This is where the left side of the heart, including the main pumping chamber, fails to develop properly. A smaller number of children with ‘half a heart’ have hypoplastic right heart syndrome (HRHS). Both conditions are very serious and require complex heart surgery.

In a previous Heart Research UK project, Mr Barron collaborated with Kerry Gaskin of the University of Worcester. Together, they looked at the support needed by parents of babies who had been allowed home between stages of surgery for a single ventricle heart condition. The project tested the use of a Congenital Heart Assessment Tool (CHAT) and a Home Monitoring Programme (HMP). CHAT is a traffic light system, based on the parent’s observations, that helps parents to recognise when their baby’s condition is deteriorating. HMP requires parents to measure and record their baby’s oxygen levels and weight every day.

Interviews with parents at the end of the study clearly showed that they welcomed and benefited from a greater understanding of their child’s condition. Using CHAT and HMP to assess their child’s condition, reduced the parents’ day-to-day anxiety. It also provided reassurance and helped them to gain in confidence and make earlier, informed decisions about when to seek medical help for their child.

Mr Barron is now working on another project to help these children, this time on older children.

www.heartresearch.org.uk

2 Medical research

Helping Little

Hearts

see Page 10

Studying exercise capacity and cardiovascular function in children born with ‘half a heart’ (only one ventricle in the heart)Birmingham Children’s Hospital and University of Birmingham | £46,900 - 12 months

The Problem Babies born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) require urgent and ongoing treatment. HLHS accounts for a quarter of all cardiac deaths that occur within the first week of life.

One of the life-saving operations that can be performed to help children with ‘half a heart’ is to create the ‘Fontan circulation’. This helps the single pumping chamber to more effectively pump blood to the body, enabling more children with HLHS to survive into adulthood.

The Project The team will study how children aged 11 –14 years with the Fontan circulation respond to exercise, compared to children of the same age with healthy hearts. In the Fontan circulation, many of the normal systems that control cardiovascular function are very different so it is important to define how these children compare with what would be expected in healthy children.

The Benefits Motivating children to exercise is an important part of this research. The work may have a wide-reaching impact by demonstrating the potential benefits of exercise, particularly in children who have been labelled as having ‘heart disease’ and also in the wider population. It might also lead to the development of special exercise programmes tailored to children with a Fontan circulation.

This project complements the work already done by Heart Research UK in our Helping Little Hearts project that pioneered exercise prescription for children after heart surgery or living with a lifelong condition.

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

Dr Nicolette Bishop Loughborough University and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust | £147,805 - 36 months Exercise to reduce heart disease risk: which type of exercise programme is most suitable for people with a kidney transplant?

The Problem People who have had a kidney transplant are at an increased risk of heart disease, which can cause damage to their new kidney. Regular exercise is known to lower the risk of heart disease, so could potentially help kidney transplant patients, but there are no exercise guidelines designed specifically for this group.

The Project This study will assess the suitability of three different eight-week exercise programmes for kidney transplant patients. All three programmes are known to help lower heart disease risk, but currently we don’t know which is the most effective for kidney transplant patients and which ones the patients will like best and stick to.

The Benefits This study will provide vital information on the willingness of patients to start each of the different exercise programmes and whether they will persevere for eight weeks. It will determine which programme is the most suitable for kidney transplant patients. In the longer term, the results will help professionals to develop safe and effective exercise guidelines that transplant patients will be able to include as part of a healthy lifestyle.

NEW GRANTS

4 Medical Research

Prof G André Ng University of Leicester | £182,912 - 36 months Developing a novel ECG-based test to measure the risk of sudden cardiac death

The Problem Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is responsible for over three million deaths per year worldwide. It is frequently caused by lethal heart rhythm disturbances. These deaths could be prevented with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Similar to pacemakers, ICDs detect life-threatening heart rhythms and deliver therapy or a shock to the heart to put it back into a normal rhythm - but identifying the right patients for ICDs can be extremely difficult.

The Project The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a simple everyday test that records the rhythm and electrical activity of the heart. Professor Ng’s team has developed two new tests based on the ECG, for measuring the risk of SCD. They involve recording the ECG while performing a series of tests on the heart. The data is then used to work out numerical values of cardiac risk. These scores will be compared with how often abnormal heart rhythms occur during an 18-month follow-up period. The study will recruit 440 patients from 11 of the leading specialist cardiac centres in the UK.

The Benefits This aim of this project is to develop a simple, accurate and cost-effective test which can more accurately identify people who need ICDs.

Novel and Emerging Technologies (NET) Grant

Prof Annette Graham Glasgow Caledonian University | £76,500 - 36 months Can ‘small RNA’ molecules prevent build-up of fats in arteries?

The Problem Atherosclerosis involves the build-up of plaques (fatty deposits) in the walls of major arteries. It is the underlying cause of both coronary heart disease and stroke. Initially, the fat accumulates within white blood cells, called macrophages, which enter the artery wall in response to chemical damage.

The Project This project will investigate ‘microRNAs’ that regulate genes involved in atherosclerosis, to see if their activity can be altered to slow or even reverse the accumulation of fat in the artery wall. Researchers will investigate the ability of two ‘microRNAs’ to regulate fat build-up in white blood cells and whether inhibitors or mimics of these molecules can change the accumulation of fat.

The Benefits This project explores the exciting idea that key microRNAs regulate the development of atherosclerotic plaques within arteries which could lead to the development of new treatments to prevent or reverse atherosclerosis.

Translational Research Projects (TRP)


6 Research Grants

Dr Faisel Khan University of Dundee | £137,206 - 24 months Reducing inflammation to protect against heart and blood vessel disease

The Problem Chronic inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular disease, particularly atherosclerosis. In the presence of risk factors, such as obesity, high cholesterol and high blood sugar, the lining of the blood vessels becomes damaged and leads to the production of inflammatory chemicals.

The Project Dr Khan’s team has recently identified a group of enzymes, called SIKs, which inhibit (reduce) the production of protective anti-inflammatory chemicals. The project will investigate the role of SIKs in the development of atherosclerosis. Importantly, it will test whether switching off SIKs helps to reduce the development of atherosclerosis through an increase in the production of protective anti-inflammatory chemicals.

The Benefits The findings will help to determine whether SIKs can protect against the processes responsible for the early development of atherosclerosis. By inhibiting the harmful pro-inflammatory pathways and promoting the protective anti-inflammatory pathways, drugs that inhibit SIKs could lead to the development of new treatments for cardiovascular disease.

Prof Ken Suzuki William Harvey Research Institute | £88,489 - 24 months Development of a novel biological medicine for heart attack

The Problem Despite recent medical progress, heart attack and resulting heart failure are still major causes of death and disability in the UK. Therefore, the development of new treatments is badly needed.

The Project Recent research has shown that the heart contains cells called ‘macrophages’ which are usually involved in our immune system but also have a role in repairing damaged tissue. Using a laboratory model which mimics a heart attack in humans, researchers will investigate whether a naturally-occurring chemical – used as a new drug - can stimulate the ‘macrophages’ in the heart to help repair damaged heart tissue.

The Benefits This exciting research may provide important new medical and scientific knowledge to help understand the recently identified, unique heart cell type and its role in the repair of the heart. This could help pave the way for a new treatment for heart attack patients.


Supporting patients and families affected by Aortic DissectionAortic dissection is when a tear occurs in the wall of the main artery from the heart, the aorta. Although the condition is rare, affecting three to four in every 100,000 people, it is a serious condition. If the artery ruptures, the person’s life is at risk and emergency surgery may be needed to repair the aorta. Sadly, a number of our supporters have been affected by an aortic dissection, either directly or through a loved one.

We believe that there is a real opportunity to help those with this condition and have focused more of our work on aortic dissection. We have appointed our first Aortic Surgery Fellow; developed Masterclasses in aortic arch surgery and funded research that developed a new method of screening patients with aortic dissection.

Our first Aortic Surgery FellowThe Thoracic Aortic Service at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital is the largest of its kind in the UK and the centre we chose to welcome the first Heart Research UK Fellowship in aortic surgery. It was awarded to Omar Nawaytou who will be given experience in different, highly-specialised and complex aortic surgeries. Under the expert guidance of Consultant Cardiac Surgeons, Professor Aung Oo, Mr Manoj Kuduvalli, Mr Mark Field and Miss Deborah Harrington, Omar will develop the skills and expertise needed to carry out these lifesaving operations.

FEATUREAortic dissection

www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants

Omar’s excited about his new opportunity and the chance to learn new skills. “I have always been interested in aortic surgery and I think there is huge scope for development in this area. We also need to raise awareness through greater investigation so that doctors and GPs pick up earlier signs of aortic dissection in patients.”

Omar Nawaytou

Mission aortic dissection MasterclassWe have also set up a dedicated Aortic Dissection Support Group on Facebook for patients with aortic dissection and their families. They have come together to share their experiences; support each other; raise awareness of the condition outside the group and raise money to continue our work. The group, with members from across the UK, as well as international members from America and Scandinavia, is currently working to fund our next masterclass in aortic arch surgery.

The two previous Masterclasses have already trained 20 senior trainees and young consultants in this specialist surgery. By giving more cardiac surgeons from hospitals across the UK this unique hands-on experience of total aortic arch replacement surgery, we can help more hearts near you.

The cost of running the Masterclass is £25,000 and the group has raised half of its target through a range of events and challenges. You can donate £3 towards the cost of the Masterclass by texting Aort16 £3 to 70070.

Here are some of the ways in which we are raising money for the next Masterclass

Regular cyclist and golfer, Steve Ridley, suffered an acute ascending type aortic dissection last year. Aged just 49, Steve’s life was saved following emergency treatment from the team at Bristol Heart Institute. Steve and wife, Fiona are using their passion for cycling to help fund our Masterclass. “I want to raise awareness, as the loneliness and lack of information last year was hard. We were very lucky as all the medical milestones have generally been positive so far,” said Fiona

Natalie Barlow lost her brother, father of three, Neil, when he was just 34-years old. His death was a real shock, but the family want to help other families who are affected by aortic dissection. They have signed up to the Great Manchester Run and will host an evening of entertainment at their local Pendlebury Social Club.

Victoria Renoldi-King began walking to help her cope after the loss of her brother, Julian. He died suddenly following an aortic dissection, aged just 44. Victoria was inspired to complete a marathon 26-mile walk along the Essex coastline in Julian’s memory and raised almost £2,000 on his birthday. “I want to raise awareness of aortic dissection so that patients are correctly diagnosed upon arrival at A&E.”

8 Masterclass

My aortic dissection Supporter Brenda Grunwell describes her aortic dissection.

“As I tidied up my dog’s blankets I felt a ‘pop’ in the left mid-way side of my chest. Almost immediately I heard an extremely loud whooshing in my head - like you see in films when the windows blow in an aeroplane. I leant on the dog crate and as I began to straighten up, I felt a heavy rushing feeling that went down my back from my shoulder blades to the base of my spine as if I had cement poured down my spine.

“With the immense heaviness and pain in my lower back, I managed to get across the room to an armchair. Luckily, I had the back of a large settee to hang onto as I made my way across the room. I could hear my son in the downstairs bathroom just as he was getting ready to leave for work and my luck was in as he heard me call out for help.

“It was also lucky that an ambulance was just five minutes away from my home. Soon the ambulance crew arrived and, again, luckily, one of the two-man crew was a paramedic who was able to start treatment. He said he had a good idea of what was happening with me but hoped he was wrong.

“In hospital, a very relaxed man, who I now know as the consultant surgeon who saved my life, explained the surgery - a graft to replace the damaged part of the aorta, without which I would likely die within a short time.

“This is just the start of my new journey as one very lucky survivor of an acute aortic dissection. There are not too many of us about. I do not put my survival to luck I prefer the word fortunate. People and their responses and timing are the reason that I can tell you my story and I am forever thankful to them.”

Tanya Somerset joined her local Church’s enchanting series of Advent beach huts, raising money towards the Masterclass in memory of her husband, the Hon Arthur Somerset, who died, aged just 52. “The UK needs a better screening programme for aortic dissection. It’s so sudden and can strike without warning with little to no time to save the life of those afflicted. With more research and training, we can try to ensure that it’s diagnosed and treated before tragedy strikes.”

facebook.com/aorticdissectionHRUK

If you’d like to join our Facebook fundraising support group please go to:

Can aortic dissection be prevented?

Sometimes aortic dissection might happen suddenly, but in some cases there are symptoms and signs that may have been missed. Risk factors include:

• High blood pressure• Smoking • High levels of bad cholesterol• Having aortic valve disease,

aortic aneurysm or another aortic disease

• A trauma injury to the chest • Previous cardiac surgery• A family history of aortic

diseases• Some other inherited

conditions, such as Marfan’s syndrome, also increase the risk


Helping Little Hearts updateOur children’s rehabilitation toolkit, the first of its kind in Europe, is leading the way in making sure that children who have a life-long heart condition or who have had heart surgery are helped to lead healthy, physically-active lives.

We have given out 10,000 toolkits to children’s heart centres in the UK. Each toolkit, aimed at youngsters, their families and others who care for them, gives clear recommendations, tailored to the child’s individual needs. This includes information 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, specialist nurse or physiotherapist.

Look what we’ve been up to

Unique Masterclass We are now helping health professionals to feel more able and confident in using the toolkit, with our Exercise Prescription in Congenital Heart Disease Masterclasses. Dr Graham Stuart, Consultant Cardiologist at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and Professor Craig Williams, of the Children’s Health and Exercise Research Centre at the University of Exeter, led the first of our specialist Masterclasses. In fact, this Masterclass was the first of its kind in the UK and provided a rare opportunity for clinicians to learn about, and discuss, the topic of exercise in these children.

Feedback from the 39 cardiac clinicians, who came from heart centres from around the UK including Great Ormond Street, has been overwhelming. While each clinician said that the Masterclass had increased their knowledge, one said, “I will be changing my clinical practice for the benefit of my patients, I’m sure one day they will be grateful to you.”

Lucy Gowing, Heart Research UK Associate Research Fellow, added that “As a result of the Masterclass and the toolkit, these specialists will go back and work with their teams. This will lead to more doctors, specialist nurses and physiotherapists feeling equipped to prescribe exercise to their child heart patients.”

10 Look what we’ve been up to

Make a Will with Heart Research UKDespite the importance of writing a Will, only one in three people in the UK have one. A Will is a legal document that puts you in control of your affairs, so you can be sure that your wishes will be respected after your death. It makes it clear who you want to benefit from your estate and avoids any unnecessary legal complications for your loved ones after your death.

A number of solicitors have teamed up with Heart Research UK to give a special FREE Will writing service. They have very kindly waived their usual fee and will provide the same Will service and legal advice, in exchange for a donation to Heart Research UK. This means that at the end of your Will writing appointment, instead of paying the solicitor you will be invited to make a minimum donation of £50 per Will (or £75 for a pair of basic ‘mirror’ Wills) to Heart Research UK. It would also be great if you could leave a gift in your Will to Heart Research UK.

If you do not have a Will or it is not up to date, perhaps it’s time to take advantage of this great offer to protect your loved ones and help hearts near you. We are grateful to the following solicitors for showing their support by taking part in our campaign.

Special People

see Page 14

Cohen Cramer | Gail Sandford | Leeds - Centre | 0113 244 0597

Morrish Solicitors LLP | Tom Morrish | Leeds – Yeadon and Pudsey | 0333 344 9609

Avery Walters | Nicola Troyna | Leeds – Chapel Allerton | 0113 200 7480

Forbes Solicitors | Patricia Prescott | Preston, Blackburn & Accrington | 0177 222 0022

Berrys Solicitors | Chris Berry | Blackpool | 0125 362 0022

Steele Smith LLP | Glen Smith | Colne and Burnley | 0128 286 8000

Calders | Emma de Vos | Dundee | 0138 222 4391

To find out more contact Kairen on 0113 234 7474.

For more people stories www.heartresearch.org.uk 11

Damart hit the peaksDamart have kindly supported our new annual event Day in the Dales which includes our 20th anniversary Three Peaks Challenge as well as a Valleys Walk. Damart is keenly promoting the heart health of its staff and entered a team into our Three Peaks Challenge. Other staff health challenges include a virtual Great Wall of China Trek, a spinathon and an incentivised healthy pledge where staff are rewarded for quitting smoking, eating healthily or being more active.

Are you a 9-5 Heart Hero? Become a Heart Hero and give to Heart Research UK through our payroll-giving scheme. This is where you give a regular or one-off donation to our charity through work. What’s more, it’s a tax-efficient way to give. This means that the donation comes straight from your salary and you aren’t taxed on it, so a £10 monthly donation will actually only cost you £8. Your donation will help us to help hearts near you. To find out more or to donate through Payroll Giving please call us on 0113 234 7474 or email [email protected]

DS Smith loving their healthy heartsDS Smith has really taken Heart Research UK’s Healthy Heart Mark to its heart. Regular Healthy Heart Days across the firm’s 31 sites have helped staff to focus on improving their own health and wellbeing while raising another £260 for Heart Research UK. As part of a recent Healthy Heart Day, staff in Wellingborough enjoyed a boxing fitness session and in Crumlin, DS Smith’s very own Mr Motivator put staff through their paces, working on their mobility and areobic exercise. Redditch staff extended their regular lunchtime walking club to visit nearby Arrow Valley Lake, enjoyed a healthy staff lunch and raffled fruit and veg hampers donated by Biddles Simply Fresh. Kettering staff sampled healthy foods, took the recipies to enjoy the foods at home and ended the day with a tombola. Individual staff also challenged themselves to cut out unhealthy snacks, drink more water, stop smoking and be more active.

Company Help

If you would like to start a Healthy Heart partnership with Heart Research UK and get your employees involved in living healthier lifestyles, please contact Jodie on 0113 297 6202 or email [email protected]

12 Company Help

Thank you to our corporate partnersCorporate partnerships are extremely important to Heart Research UK. Not only do they help to fund our work, they also provide an opportunity to work with a business to help their staff and customers to live a healthier, happier, longer lives.

Thank you to Blacks for making us their Charity of the Year for a second year. The solicitors firm is really keen to complete Healthy Heart activities that encourage staff to think about and improve their own health and wellbeing and raise money for our pioneering projects.

We’re pleased to announce our new corporate partnership with Pharmacy2U who provide a free NHS repeat prescriptions service, which some of our readers might find helpful. Medication can be ordered by phone or online and delivered to your home, workplace or another address.

“We are really pleased to partner with Heart Research UK, to support the important work it does to raise awareness of heart disease prevention and the pioneering research it funds” said Dr Julian Harrison, Director of Pharmacy2U. www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/nhs.

Thank you to Lloyds Bank Wealth team in Leeds for making us their Charity of the Year for 2016. The team got off to a great start, holding their own corporate walk and Healthy Heart Day.

Blacks Solicitors - Leeds corporate walk

13Join our Healthy Heart Mark scheme – call 0113 297 6206

Heart Research UK is helping hearts near you with pioneering medical research at centres of excellence across the UK as well as local Healthy Heart Grants that encourage people to live healthier, happier, longer lives. We pride ourselves on spending money raised by you, on projects near you.

Special People

Research is just souper Angie Moore and husband, Mick, have been extremely busy making endless batches of soup, to raise money for Heart Research UK. “I have an impaired left ventricle function and the top of my heart is in Atrial Fibrillation. This led to a diagnosis of heart failure” explained Angie. “I had fluid on my lungs, I couldn’t sleep and I couldn’t walk any distance.”

As part of her treatment Angie received a cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT). This involves delivering pacemaker wires to the heart muscle to resynchronise the beating of the two ventricles - the main pumping chambers of the heart. Angie continued:

Raising money near you to spend near you

“It shows everyone just how much the research has benefitted patients. I was lucky that technology has moved on and the procedure I had is now available to everyone. It was also lucky that my situation was addressed when it occurred, within 18 months of my heart disease diagnosis and six months after heart failure being diagnosed which meant I did not have to endure years of discomfort and wait as with some other patients”.

Heart Research UK has funded a project to develop a new technique which involves delivering the pacemaker wire through a different route, inside the heart. This could help patients who do not respond to conventional CRT. So far, the results have been encouraging and show the new technique to be feasible, safe and straightforward. Due to end later this year, if the results from the trial prove its success, it could be introduced into everyday practice.

14 Special People

Phill rows his boat Leeds Primal Gym owner, Phill Wright, might have missed out on setting a new world record for the furthest distance rowed in 24 continuous hours, but was still smiling as he raised a magnificent £4,500. Phill took on the gruelling indoor row in memory of his close friend, Martin Hall, who died of heart problems aged just 35. To help him stay focused, a group of his friends, including Kev Westerman, rowed alongside him for part of his challenge. It was good to see senior coach, Kev, back working and training after a recent operation to replace a heart valve. We’re so proud of Phill as he rowed a formidable 213,202 miles and never gave up. Thank you to Primal Gym for their continued support.

Dad scores a hole in one for Little HeartsListening to a father proudly talk about his daughter’s work is heart-warming and John Gowing is no exception. He is extremely supportive of his daughter Lucy, Heart Research UK Associate Research Fellow, who has spearheaded our Helping Little Hearts campaign. As a keen sportsman and father to a sporty daughter, John fully appreciates the health and social benefits of exercise prescription for youngsters with congenital heart problems. When he was made captain of Frilford Heath Golf Club in Oxfordshire, it was fitting that he chose to back Lucy and the Helping Little Hearts campaign by making Heart Research UK the club’s charity of the year.

Raised

£4,500

“Seeing what some of the children are able to achieve is remarkable” enthused John, “I am confident that we can raise a substantial amount for Heart Research UK during my year as captain.”

15Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/heartresearchuk

Raised £1,500

5000 miles at £1 a mileKeith and Catherine Fowler from Worthing have set themselves an ambitious goal of raising £5,000 by pounding 5,000 miles in memory of Catherine’s father, Tim Fleming. Tim died suddenly, aged 69, from an aortic dissection last year and the couple want to help to fund the next Heart Research UK Masterclass in aortic arch surgery.

Keith, who is a member of his local Worthing Striders, has set a physical trial of seven marathons and ultra-marathons throughout this year, while Catherine was aiming for her first-ever marathon and three smaller runs. Taking into account these races and training runs – the couple will clock up the magic 5,000 miles and hope to raise £1 a mile.

Guess who came to school today? It’s not every day that a Rugby League star drops in unannounced at your local school but for young fundraiser, Amber Buckle, it was an honour that left her almost lost for words. Adrian Purtell, our Ambassador and Captain at Bradford Bulls, hosted a special assembly at Greenhill Primary School. During the assembly, Adrian spoke to eight-year-old Amber and her school friends about how he keeps his heart healthy and how they can too. Amber was delighted when Adrian then surprised her with a Heart Research UK certificate of appreciation for raising over £1,500. Amber has been raising funds for Heart Research UK for the past three years with mum Kate. Her activities have included sponsored challenges including the Valleys Walk and selling wristbands and hot chocolate to her school friends.

“I loved seeing Adrian with my friends. He even got to see me play the ukulele”

Raised

£5,000

Catherine describes Tim as an inspiration, “He was an amazing husband, an incredible father and grandfather. We all miss him so much and it makes the pain all the more difficult to bear when we understand that aortic dissection is something that could be prevented.”

We’re sure that Keith and Catherine will reach their target 5,000 miles but they’ll probably go through a few pairs of trainers too. You can give online to Catherine and Keith at www.runningforAD.org or simply text TIMF69 and the amount (eg £10) to 70070.

16 Special People

Gearing-up for LouisProud mum, Amy Brocklebank, and her friends are gearing-up for a 90-mile cycle for Heart Research UK. Amy was inspired to complete the sponsored cycle between Sheffield and Skegness by her four-year-old son, Louis, who had surgery at 14 months-old to repair two congenital heart defects. While the surgery was successful, Louis is regularly monitored by health staff as he experiences bradycardia (slow heart rate) and problems with his heart rhythm. While Amy is aware of the risks posed by his condition, she and the family take one day at a time and enjoy every moment they have together. This includes holding an annual community fundraising event to celebrate the little boy’s birthday and this year, for his fifth birthday, the family are hosting a talent show in their local sports and social club. You can sponsor Amy online: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/cycletoskegness

Family scales new heights SUBWAY® franchisee, Debra Law’s daughter, Jodi, and grandson, Ryan, successfully completed the tough National Three Peaks challenge along with two work colleagues and a friend. The group braved the cold as they scaled Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours. Despite picking up a few injuries and suffering a couple of mishaps along the journey, the team raised over £1,650 – a fantastic effort - which was presented to the charity’s Ambassador, Mary Twomey, at the SUBWAY® store in Eastleigh.

Raised £1,650


Swim the Channel

What do our ambassador; Adrian Purtell, 74-year-old Oxford woman, Sandra Dwek, and John Butler and his friends from estate management company, Countrywide, have in common? They’ve all been swimming the length of the English Channel in their local pool for Heart Research UK. Sandra jumped in the pool to get fit doing the sport she loves and was inspired to take on the challenge as her grandparents, mother, aunt and cousin all suffered from coronary heart disease. John, 54, did the swim as part of a fitness challenge which has seen his weight fall from 22 to18 stones. He swam in his local Newhaven, Sussex pool with colleague, Angela Everest, while others in other Countrywide offices did swim challenges across the UK. Adrian, took on the mammoth swim in just one afternoon with his two Bradford Bulls teammates, Dan Fleming and James Mendeika.

Special volunteers

Ida and Ron Welsh both began volunteering at our head office in Leeds over a decade ago, coming into our Leeds head office a few times a year to help us with our administration. While volunteering, the couple have become firm friends with staff and volunteers due to their good sense of humour and easy going nature. Ever read a Pulse before? There’s a good chance that your copy of Pulse was packed by either Ida or Ron.

Sadly, Ron was taken ill in December 2015 and died in January 2016. His death came as a shock. We were proud to attend his funeral, celebrate his life and were delighted to welcome Ida back to the office. Our volunteers, like Ida and Ron, play an important role in helping our charity and we are very grateful to everyone who becomes one of our helping hearts team.

We need you We are extremely lucky to have a great army of volunteers who give their time and skills to help us with our work. Volunteers are essential and help us in so many ways - from posting t-shirts to our fundraisers, or bag packing in supermarkets to office administration and designing posters. They also make sure that events run smoothly, collections are counted and even help in our Heart Research UK offices. To help even more hearts across the UK, we need more volunteers. If you can spare some time and want to put your skills to good use, we’d love to hear from you. We just need to know what hours you can spare, when, how often and where, perhaps in our Leeds or Birmingham offices, or from your own home. As well as knowing that you are helping hearts and representing our charity, we could help you to develop new skills and experiences. Ask your employers if they have a volunteer scheme and you might be able to help us during your work time, too.

If you can help please call Denise on 0113 234 7474 or e-mail [email protected]

Special People18

Ron Welsh | £305

Peter Charles Alford | £215

James Breakspeare | £682

Mrs Renee Burrow | £200

Ernest Joseph Clough | £222

Mrs Phyllis Cottier | £204

David Coulto | £400

Rev Chris Cousins | £2,029

Ros Dale | £1,220

Miss Christine Dawkins | £1,040

Mrs May Dawson | £100

F. Grady | £100

Jason Greatbatch | £236

Robert Hart | £115

Mrs Florence May Howes | £289

Adam Howe | £322

Christopher Johnson | £810

Joseph Kennedy | £523

Kenneth Frank James Knight | £208

Edward Reginald Leaver | £240

Ann Marsh | £243

Mrs May Morris and Alan Gamble | £236

George Edwin John Roberts | £271

Michael Rutt | £230

Raymond Stockton | £230

Dennis Walton | £142

Edward Webb | £100

Donationsin Memory

HRUK in the Midlands

Remembering loved ones is helping hearts near youGoing through the loss of a loved one can be a lonely and difficult time, but the love and support of our family and friends shines through to help us have happier memories. Giving in memory of a loved one, can also bring comfort. Whether you choose to have a collection plate at the funeral, ask people to make a donation in lieu of flowers or set up an In Memory Fund, your donation will be warmly received and used to fund work into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease. To talk about a donation in memory or to set up a lasting legacy with an on-going In Memory Fund, please call Rachel on 0113 234 7474 or email [email protected].

We are grateful for all those who have remembered loved ones in a lasting way with a Donation in Memory. Here are the latest donations:

20 Donations in Memory

Celebrating our proudest supporter, Barry SawbridgeOver the last few years, Barry and Maria Sawbridge have been fantastic representatives and fundraisers for our charity. With the support of family and friends, they have raised close to £5,000 since they first started fundraising for Heart Research UK, 6 years ago. Their annual Christmas lights display at their home in Braunstone, Leicester is always a great festive treat.

Bagging the cashA big “thank you” to Waitrose branches at Harborne, Hall Green and Sutton Coldfield and their customers for their continued support of our ‘Helping Little Hearts’ appeal through the community matters scheme. We were recently nominated by all three stores who raised a fantastic £1,215 between them.

We would like to give a special thanks to Waitrose Harborne for once again inviting Heart Research UK in the Midlands to fundraise by bag packing. Generous customers helped to raise £975.



Unfortunately, Barry suffered a heart attack shortly after last year’s lights switch-on and later, sadly died. His sudden death has left his family, friends and our staff shocked. Shortly after his death, his family set up The Barry Sawbridge Memorial Fund, to continue Barry’s legacy of supporting our medical research in the Midlands. We are grateful for their generosity and will continue to work in the Midlands to ensure that The Barry Sawbridge Memorial Fund remains a fitting tribute to our friend’s tireless work. Donations can be made online at www.barry.sawbridge.muchloved.com

www.heartresearch.org.uk/midlands-events

© Leicester Mercury

HRUK in the Midlands 21

The heart of music People in the Midlands love to boogie – judging by the poptastic success of musical fundraising events in the area. In our hit parade of thanks we have:

The Carey Academy of Irish Dance The multi-world and national title winners, delivered a breath-taking night of traditional and modern Irish dance at the Irish Centre in Digbeth under the direction of John Carey. Money raised at the event will go towards Heart Research UK-funded projects at Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

Andrew Marshall Andrew put his heart and soul into another fab night out that saw one lucky couple grooving all the way to Cyprus. Andrew’s heart and soul night was a great night of dancing, while lucky raffle winners, Teresa savage, and her husband, Daniel bagged the top prize of a seven-night stay at the Blue Spice holiday complex in Pernera, Cyprus, generously donated by the family-run business.

The heart and soul night raised an impressive £2,000 that will be added to the Ethan’s Gift, a fund started by Andrew and Julie Marshall to remember their three-year-old son who tragically died from a heart problem. The money will provide exercise toolkits for young heart patients in Birmingham.

Castle Bromwich Singers This energetic choir kept people dancing throughout a year of fundraising gigs for Heart Research UK in the Midlands. Their final Sing for Your Heart performance at Birmingham’s newly-renovated Grand Central shopping area in New Street Station raised another £400 for our charity.

The Vaughan Singers It is always a pleasure to listen to these musical, long-term supporters of our charity and once again they didn’t disappoint. They put on a fantastic show at Four Oaks Baptist Church in Sutton Coldfield. John Lloyd and Joanne Madden from our Midlands Office chatted to members of the church about the projects being funded in the Midlands, while a retiring collection raised £320 which was divided equally between Heart Research UK and Church funds.

Brindleyplace Local choirs including the Birmingham Brass Band, Sutton Coldfield Community Choir and Vivat! Choir made Birmingham’s Brindleyplace alive with the sound of music. Heart Research UK is one of Brindleyplace’s nominated charities. It’s Water’s Edge bandstand provided the perfect backdrop for an outdoor Sing for Your Heart concert that raised almost £500. Jan Evans, a member of the Sutton Coldfield Community Choir, put it into perspective: “Heart disease affects so many of our lives and without events like Sing for your Heart, the charity wouldn’t be able to fund important research.”

The Carey Academy of Irish Dance Castle Bromwich Singers

HRUK in the Midlands22

Putt it there for Heart Research UKCongratulations to Bob Wright after he was newly elected as the captain of Moseley Golf Club. As the captain, Bob has chosen to donate all proceeds from the club’s 2016 charity events, including a Charity Golf Tournament, to the Nick Bill Memorial Fund. The fund was set up by John and Ann Bill in 2008 to remember their 21-year old son, Nick.

Ann Grainger hits a new highThank you to local businesswoman, Ann Grainger, for her continued hard work and for passing the £13,000 mark with her fundraising in memory of her late husband, Mick.

Mother and daughter raise over £2,000 Jane Summers set about family fundraising for Heart Research UK after the sad loss of her brother, Hugh, from heart problems. For her 70th birthday, she asked people to donate to our charity rather than buy her presents and through the generosity of family and friends, raised £1,000. The fundraising didn’t stop there as Jane’s daughter and son-in-law, Alex and Gavin Pettifer, took on the challenging Shrewsbury Half Marathon and raised over £1,000.

Alex said “We chose Heart Research UK for our charity because the importance of a healthy heart has been paramount in our family because of my Uncle Hugh.”

Despite having a successful heart transplant in 2014, Hugh’s condition grew steadily worse. “He was a larger than life character who had an absolute heart of gold and we felt a heart charity was the right choice to give something back,” said Alex. “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who spurred us on during the race but, most importantly, to those who sponsored us.”

Contact our Midlands office on 0121 454 1799 23

Thanksto our partners in the Midlandsadi Group engineering help for hearts

Midlands engineering company, adi Group Ltd, chose Heart Research UK as its new charity partner for 2016 and immediately raised almost £3,000 from a raffle. The Heart Research UK in the Midlands team and National Director, Barbara Harpham, received a warm welcome from adi Group employees at the company’s annual dinner where the raffle raised £1,458. Alan Lusty, CEO, then announced that the company would generously double the amount raised, bringing the total to a fantastic £2,916.

adi Group Ltd gave a further donation of £1,890 when they succeeded at a ‘One Team’ challenge, as part of a conference at Walton Hall. It was organised by Carole Longden, who has also set up Heart Research UK Forrest of Hearts. The Group are determined to prove their fundraising metal, organising a charity football match, with the aim of raising another £2,500.

“We are grateful that adi Group has chosen to support Heart Research UK as its charity partner. We look forward to working closely with them, as their staff enjoy taking part in fundraisers and heart healthy events while helping us to fund our pioneering research” says John Lloyd, Midlands Regional Manager at Heart Research UK.

Raising smiles, hearts and moneyWe’re delighted that we will continue to work with Sunrise Senior Living for a second year, with its new addition of Gracewell Healthcare in Edgbaston. The firm has put on some fantastic health and wellbeing events that have really captured the community’s imagination. This included a beach-themed garden party at Sunrise Senior Living that came complete with donkeys, beach huts and a coconut shy. Over at Gracewell, staff raffled a food hamper put together by volunteers at Heart Research UK in the Midlands and raised £123.

HRUK in the Midlands24

Sign of the timesElonex Outdoor Media took Heart Research UK to the big screen. The firm provided a digital sign on the major A38 road in and out of Birmingham City Centre. Seen by four million people – including the slow moving commuters stuck in rush hour traffic - the sign has helped to raise the profile of the charity by telling people who we are and about our pioneering work.

BMG Research Birmingham-based, BMG Research, has chosen Heart Research UK as their Charity partner for 2016. The company’s 200+ staff, made up of a national field-force, UK contact centre workers and a team of over 100 research executives, managers and directors, have been involved in sponsorship activities, our Treasure your Heart appeal and other Midlands-based fundraising.

Richard’s back in the saddleWe are delighted that our friend and Heart Research UK Ambassador, Richard Usmar, of supporters, Premier Planning, has made a good recovery following a quadruple heart bypass and valve replacement last year. It’s great to see that Richard, a keen cyclist, back on his bike.

Nothing dormant about £7,000 Local Midlands solicitors are helping hearts by donating unclaimed funds from their dormant client accounts to our charity. Government changes mean that this has become an easier way for companies to donate to charity and so we are very grateful for their support

Thanks for gifts & product donationsGolden Bear Toys | Mrs Darlington’s | Blue Spice, Cyprus | Mum’s Masala | Clairefontaine | NPF, Bassetts Pole | Sue Howells | Cadbury | Waitrose | Bank Restaurant | Aylesford Golf course | Devere and Co | Jon Manship Records | Sainsbury’s, Kings Heath | Great Barr Golf Club |

Keith and Joan Mindelsohn Charitable Trust - £1,500 | Soroptimist International of Central Birmingham - £700 | Ms Margaret Cannadine - £300 | Naomi Hall- Great Midlands Fun Run - £285 | Pacific Nurseries - Collection Boxes - £841 | The White Horse, Harborne - Hampers & Pub Quiz - £275 |

Contact our Midlands office on 0121 454 1799 25

Sally and Karen are championsOne in four adults in the UK are classed as obese. Sadly, trends suggest this could rise to one in two (50%) by 2050. This is why we have always supported the National Obesity Forum’s annual campaign to promote ways in which people can improve their health. As part of this year’s campaign our Ambassador, Sally Bee, did a healthy outdoor cooking demonstration in Birmingham and shared a number of dishes and healthy recipes that got the thumbs-up from spectators and passers-by.

Sally was joined by Karen Collins, who spoke about her personal journey to lose over two and a half stones, while improving her overall fitness and health. Karen, who works for DS Smith in Redditch, was inspired to change her lifestyle following her Healthy Heart check by Heart Research UK’s, Vicki Litherland.

“I now snack on healthier options like fruit and eat more vegetables. I cook most things from scratch rather than from jars and, most importantly, I eat a healthy breakfast along with drinking at least three litres of water per day” said Karen.

Lifestyle12,000 pupils Learn by Heart

It’s been a wonderful journey for our Schools Co-Ordinator, Sharron Bright, presenting her healthy heart show to children in schools up and down the country. Sharron recently clocked-up the magic 12,000th pupil during her “Learn by Heart” presentation.

That honour went to Holly Humes at Alderman Davies Primary School in Neath, South Wales. This was also Sharron’s first Learn by Heart presentation in Wales, so while the pupils enjoyed their healthy heart day, she bravely tried out her Welsh.

Feedback from teachers and pupils was great, with vice-principal, Michelle Strang saying: “It was pitched well for each year group, interesting yet fun-certainly got the message across. A fantastic presentation enjoyed by all.”

The presentation in Wales was delivered thanks to funds raised by DS Smith. This funding has also allowed Heart Research UK to visit schools in a wide area across the UK including. Chesterfield, Louth, Burton-on-Trent and Redditch.

At a Learn by Heart presentation at Burghclere Primary School in Newbury, Sharron was joined by our retiring local volunteer, Joan Cole. Joan delivered her final school presentation to a group of 9 to 11 year olds. After her presentation, we were honoured to present Joan with a special Heart Research UK award to mark her retirement and celebrate her ten years of volunteering to promote heart-healthy messages to more than 6,500 children in Berkshire and Hampshire.

26 Healthy Hearts

Drax Power are GoldAll that glitters is definitely gold for Drax Power as they became the latest company to achieve our top Healthy Heart Mark employer award. Drax were awarded the gold mark after more than 1,000 of their staff completed a range of healthy heart activities including workshops on heart health, personal health assessments and developing individual Healthy Heart Action Plans. Staff also enjoyed local heritage walks and some went on to complete a 10k run.

Gill Eastwood, Occupational Health Advisor at Drax, has been a great advocate of the programme, “Health promotion remains part of the occupational health target at Drax. Achieving this award helps motivate the organisation as a whole to continue to focus on all aspects of health and safety at work and the importance of looking after our personal health and wellbeing.”

Heart Research UK Lifestyle Manager, Barbara Dinsdale, said: “The range of activities that Drax Power has used to achieve the Healthy Heart Mark employer award is a wonderful testimony to their dedication and commitment to the scheme. Drax Power has proved to be a wonderful example of supporting and encouraging a heart-healthy organisation at all levels within the organisation and beyond.”

Healthy Heart Markhealthy heart employer

healthy heart employer healthy heart employer

Paul’s change of heart Paul Moore works for Drax electrical contractors, EMI. Three years ago, while working at the power station, he began experiencing chest pains. Aged just 50, he collapsed and was treated with a defibrillator. Unfortunately, Paul went on to have a heart attack. He was revived and taken by ambulance to Castle Hill Hospital near Hull. Before he reached the hospital, his heart stopped again.

Paul had an operation to fit a stent to open a blocked coronary artery in his heart. Since the operation Paul has recovered well and returned to work. He’s also changed his lifestyle as he has stopped smoking, makes sure that he eats regular meals that include plenty of fruit and vegetables and has installed a cross-trainer at home.

“It was a real wake-up call and made me realise how insignificant material things are,” said Paul, who lives in Great Houlton, Barnsley. “I’ve taken more control of things in my life and have shared my experiences with other staff at Drax.”

For more information www.heartresearch.org.uk 27

Our new Healthy Heart Checks are the businessOur Lifestyle team have rolled out their new style Healthy Heart checks in companies with great results. We provide the checks to people who request them in their workplace as part of a confidential consultation. Using these new style Healthy Heart checks, we then give people an attractive full-colour results package that includes, for the first time, a clinically validated heart / age risk. We use this to help explain to people what steps they can take to improve or maintain their heart age by making lifestyle changes and discuss any key risk factors that they need to know.

The feedback to our new style Healthy Heart checks has been very positive, with results creating a real buzz of competitiveness around the workplace.

Healthy Heart Markhealthy heart employer

healthy heart employer healthy heart employer

www.heartresearch.org.uk/heartsatwork

Read more about our Healthy Heart Checks and book yours at

28 Healthy Hearts

Lifestyle featureOmega 3- A focus on fishHow much do you know about omega-3 essential fatty acids and are you getting enough? Heart Research UK’s Lifestyle Officer and Nutritionist Vicki Litherland gives the lowdown on the numerous health benefits of these important nutrients.

What is omega-3? Omega-3 is a family of essential fats which are important for many aspects of health, including cognitive function, vision, foetal development and protection against the UK’s biggest killer, cardiovascular disease.

Omega-3 fats come in different forms: ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) is an essential fatty acid which cannot be made in our bodies, so it must be obtained from our diets. It can be mainly found in vegetable oils, rapeseed and linseed, nuts, soybeans and green leafy vegetables.

Once we eat foods containing ALA, it is used to make the long-chain fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid). However, this is a slow process and only produces small amounts. To get better levels of EPA and DHA we should also include oily fish like salmon, trout, fresh tuna, mackerel and sardines in our diets.

What are the benefits? Studies of populations show that high fish-consuming nations like Japan, Greenland and Mediterranean countries have lower rates of cardiovascular disease than Western countries including the UK.

Among the range of beneficial properties from Omega 3 are: cholesterol-lowering, anti-thrombotic, anti-inflammatory and, anti-arrhythmic. As well as containing omega-3, fish and shellfish are good sources of other important nutrients including vitamins A and D, iodine, calcium, selenium and protein.

How much should I eat? There are no official recommendations, however, it is recommended that we should eat two portions of fish each week (2x 140g), including one which is oily. Current figures from the National Diet and Nutrition survey show that people in the UK don’t eat enough oily fish, with adults averaging just 54g each week.

Heart Research UK has teamed up with Seafish’s #superfishoil health campaign which is encouraging people to eat more Omega-3 rich fish to keep their hearts healthy. To find out more go to

fishisthedish.co.uk/health/omega3-superfishoil


Make mealtimes the heart of a healthy homeWe launched a new campaign with online furniture retailer, MatalanDirect.com, to get more families eating together at the table. Shared mealtimes are a great opportunity for families to develop positive relationships with food and of course, each other.

Our snapshot survey of 1,000 UK families showed that only a third (36%) of those surveyed, eat a main meal together at a dining table every day, despite the majority considering shared mealtimes a valuable traditional habit.

The Together at the Table campaign shares practical tips and tools to make shared mealtimes the heart of a healthy home.

Six top reasons to eat Together at the Table:1. Controls portions and waistlines Turning off distractions like the TV, phones and tablets while eating at the table could help you to focus on what, how much and how quickly you eat.

2. Control what’s on offer Ditch the ‘TV dinner’ – ready meals and takeaways are often high in fat, salt and sugar which can have a negative effect on heart health. A more structured mealtime routine around the table could give you the incentive to make that extra effort to prepare delicious healthy meals from scratch.

Lifestyle feature

Research suggests that families who eat together are more likely to be a healthy weight.

30 Lifestyle feature

3. Lead by example Set a good example to children by sharing the same healthy meal Together at the Table, including a variety of different vegetables.

4. Develop skills for life Make mealtimes a family affair and give everyone a role from the food shopping and preparation, to stirring and laying the table, setting them up with positive skills for life.

5. Nurture happy minds Turn off distractions and let the conversations flow around the table as you enjoy meal times together.

6. Adopt healthier behaviours Sharing mealtimes as a household will help to build a healthy relationship with food. Being together as a family could make teens less likely to fall into risky habits like smoking, alcohol and substance abuse or develop eating disorders. Studies show

that children and teenagers who eat with their families eat more portions of fruits and vegetables.

Stress can lead to increased blood pressure as well as unhealthy habits including emotional eating, physical inactivity, smoking and drinking alcohol which can all increase risk of heart disease. Sharing your worries with a supportive family network can help to control stress.

Top tips for healthy family mealtimesWith growing children it can be tempting to pile their plates high to ensure they have the energy they need to learn, play and grow.

- Serve smaller portions from dishes on the table, they can always go back for seconds if they really are still hungry

- Using smaller plates for the children will make their dishes look just as full without being over-facing

- Stop the obsession with ‘clean plates’. Children have a natural ability to self-regulate their appetite in response to hunger and fullness cues, meaning they should stop eating once they’ve had enough

- Limit distractions by turning off the TV and having a ‘no phones’ rule while at the dinner table. As well as allowing the conversation to flow you’ll find yourself more focused on your meal

- Use our Together at the Table resources to help children to get involved in planning and shopping for their healthier meals

For supportive resources and recipes, visit Heart Research UK and MatalanDirect.com’s Together at the Table pages online. www.heartresearch.org.uk/heart/together-at-the-table www.direct.matalan.co.uk/blogs/inspired-living/103323271-together-at-the-table


Leeds Rhinos Foundation ‘Heart of Gold’, £10,000

Treble winning Leeds Rhinos players have been helping to promote heart health among their young fans as the first rugby team to get their own Top Trumps deck of cards, thanks to a grant from Heart Research UK. The card pack has been produced as part of Leeds Rhinos Foundation’s ‘Heart of Gold’ project’. Each card features a player from the club’s golden era and promotes a positive healthy heart message.

The project has targeted 30 disadvantaged children from each of the 36 participating primary schools over a six-week programme. Children will receive three weekly sessions of multi-skill physical activities themed around street games and two weekly healthy heart education workshops.

Davide Longo, Leeds Rhinos Foundation General Manager, said: “These cards are a great addition to our Healthy Heart project and are a fun way for us to deliver healthy heart messages to children using the inspirational Leeds Rhinos players”.

Healthy Heart Grant updates Here’s an update on one of our projects and the progress they have made helping hearts in their area.

32 HRUK Healthy Hearts Grants

Since 2002, Heart Research UK has given out £1.2m in Healthy Heart Grants to community schemes that have helped people to change their lifewstyles and live healthier, happier and longer lives. Here’s some of our latest grants:

Latest HRUK Healthy Heart Grants Healthy Heart Grant updates

Bristol - Life Cycle ‘Get your heart in gear’, £6,698

Free York City Knights RLFC match day tickets are the reward for six York primary schools following lunchtime sessions three times a week, as well as innovative team sport activities like Olympic-style sports. The children will learn how to look after their hearts and use food diaries to promote the healthy eating message.

Kirklees, West Yorkshire - CP Active ‘Environmental Health Prompts’, £10,000

A community in Kirklees, West Yorkshire will be exposed to subliminal ‘take action’ prompts which will be installed on a variety of outdoor media with short direct messages prompting people to increase their physical activity levels.

Warrington - Warrington Wolves Charitable Foundation ‘Happy Hearts’, £10,000

Primary school children will be taught how to keep their heart healthy through improved diet, understanding food labelling, the dangers of smoking and the importance of including 40 minutes of physical activity a week.

3333To apply for a grant visit www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants

Dartford - Healthy Living Centre ‘HGV MOT’, £5,000

HGV drivers in Kent are being given a one-day course promoting healthy lifestyles. This includes tips and fun activities to improve movement and exercise, advice on how to eat healthily and having their heart rate and blood pressure checked.

Latest HRUK Healthy Heart Grants

www.heartresearch.org.uk/grants

To apply for a grant visit

Skelmersdale - BDS Training Ltd ‘Captain Heart and the BDS squad’, £5,000

Captain Heart and the BDS Squad is a fun-filled project packed with informative games and activities aimed at 7-8 year old pupils in ten schools in Skelmersdale. Children wear superhero capes and masks as they learn the skills needed to defeat their nemesis - heart disease.

Blackburn/Darwen - Access Ability CIC ‘Access Heart Ability’, £8,486

Eighty people who are deaf, have a disability or poor mental health, living in East Lancashire, will be supported to take steps to become heart healthy through four 10-week exercise and cook sessions developed through an evidence-based ‘5 ways to wellbeing’ method.

Blackburn - Blackburn Rovers Community Trust ‘Heart of the Game’, £10,000

‘Heart of the Game’ is an educational programme aimed at teaching local Key Stage 2 children about the importance of healthy lifestyles and the negative impact on the heart of unhealthy habits. Classes from local primary schools will take part in a two-day programme of workshops and activities.

3434 HRUK Healthy Hearts Grants

Our HRUK/SUBWAY® healthy heart grants always aim to have a positive effect on the communities that they reach. Here’s one project in County Durham that is already improving the lives of local people.

Lifeline Community Action, Newton Aycliffe ‘Health Drop-In’, £9,181

This community project in County Durham, which is aiming to address the health and wellbeing of those living in deprived areas of Newton Aycliffe, has already had a positive impact on the lives of children, adults and families in the community. Many have made lifestyle changes that will benefit their hearts such as, quitting smoking, losing weight and eating more healthily.

Irene Rispin, who is in her 60’s, has lost nearly a stone in weight and is eating healthier and becoming fitter - as well as gaining more confidence. Val Welham, 58, from Newton Aycliffe has lost three and a half stones and said: “Attending the healthy heart hub has given me the push to start losing weight. In turn I feel healthier and have more energy.”

Susan Sadler, Founder of Lifeline Community Action, added: “We have already seen some major breakthroughs in many people’s lives and we hope to see more throughout the remainder of the project. The sessions are always fun and interactive and generally people don’t want to leave, which is testimony in itself.”

SUBWAY®Healthy Heart Grants update Latest HRUK Healthy Heart Grants

3535HRUK & SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grants

It’s six years since we started running HRUK/SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grants to communities across the UK. These grants are funded from money raised in local SUBWAY® stores from customer donations; fundraising events organised by franchisees and annual SUBWAY® Helping Hearts Family 5Ks.

Anglia region

Colchester - Colchester United Football in the Community ‘Cardio-Active’, £8,500

Children and their families in Colchester will be getting ‘Cardio Active’ as they learn how to keep themselves active and their hearts healthy in a six-week programme across nine primary schools in Colchester and North East Essex.

Northamptonshire - Higham Ferrers Gateway Club ‘Happy Healthy Hearts’, £1,500

Higham Ferrers Gateway Club, a social and leisure group for adults with learning difficulties, will hold a series of weekly cooking and dance lessons to help people be more aware of how to cook and eat healthily as well as being more physically active.

Latest SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grants

HRUK Healthy Hearts Grants36 HRUK & SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grants

Yorkshire

Sheffield – Sova ‘Sova Love Hearts’, £4,513

Sova Love Hearts will support up to 100 young people within or on the edges of the care system, to engage with heart healthy lifestyles like learning practical skills experiences around healthy eating, exercise, smoking cessation and the dangers of substance misuse.

Carlton region

West London - QPR in the Community Trust ‘QPR Healthy Hearts, Happy Families’, £9,500

Families with young children in West London will join cook & eat sessions on Saturdays throughout 2016 helping families to get active and enjoy learning new cooking skills together. Children’s holiday camps will also run in the summer holidays.

Meridian region

Deal, Kent - Cinque Ports Community Kitchen CIC ‘Heartily Keen2Cook’, £10,000

Adults aged 40 and over, who have been identified as at risk of heart disease, will learn new cooking skills which could give their lifestyles a healthy overhaul. Peer support and sharing experiences will be key to keeping individuals motivated as they aim for a healthier heart.

HTV region

Bristol - The Songwriting Charity ‘Beating Heart’, £10,000

Around 250 primary school children from 10 schools will take part in one-day inclusive and interactive song writing workshops, all themed around the heart. Songs will be shared in whole-school assemblies to ensure everyone sings from the same song sheet on the topic of heart health.

Wales

Blaenau, Gwent - Llanhilleth Miners Institute ‘Cooking for Healthy Hearts’, £10,000

Families in the mining town of Llanhilleth will learn how to prepare easy, low cost, healthy meals and become confident swapping high fat and salt foods for equally flavoursome alternatives – as well as doing physical activity challenges.

Northern Ireland

Belfast - TW Braga ‘Healthy Heart Warriors’, £10,000

Belfast junior football club is running monthly events aimed at young players, their parents and the wider community covering cooking, heart education and nutritional advice and including different exercise activities.

Latest SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grants

3737HRUK & SUBWAY® Healthy Heart Grants

Our SUBWAY Helping Hearts™ Family 5K series is alive and kicking every summer with lots of free and fun entertainment including face painting, games and a bouncy castle.

2016 venues:Cambridge – 19 JuneNewport – 3 JulyNottingham – 10 JulyBelfast – 7 August

London – 14 AugustBirmingham – 21 AugustNewcastle – 4 SeptemberEdinburgh – 25 September

Join our summer of SUBWAY® Helping Hearts™ Family 5K Series Fun

www.5ksubway.comREGISTER NOW at:

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Lifestyle advice.

Choose your Challenge in 2016Make 2016 the year when you cross a few more things off your bucket list and help Heart Research UK continue helping hearts near you. We’ve got a host of challenges you can take part in here:

Swim the Channel Our Swim the Channel Challenge gives you an achievable way to get fit and support our charity. To complete the challenge you need to swim the 22.5 miles distance of the Channel in your local pool over a 12-week period. Sign up online www.heartresearch.org.uk/events/swim-channel or e-mail Rachel on [email protected].

Skydiving It takes a lot of courage to jump out of a plane from 15,000ft so take the plunge and help hearts in the process. You’ve got 20 UK locations where you’ll experience this once in a lifetime opportunity whilst harnessed to a qualified instructor – and if you raise more than £400 your skydive is FREE.

Great North Run Sign up and run for #TeamHeartResearchUK in the world’s most icon half marathon. Email [email protected]

World Heart Day Challenge What better day to get heart healthy than World Heart day? We are asking you to use this day to get healthy with friends, family or colleagues and raise money to help people live healthier, happier, longer lives. From healthy bake offs to step challenges in the office, get creative, get healthy and raise money. Email [email protected]

Given by you

Spent near you

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

If you would like to discuss a bespoke partnership for your business then please contact [email protected] or call 0113 297 6202

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

www.heartresearch.org.uk/events

For more information and registration details for all these events, visit:

heart research uk pulse spring summer 2016

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