Local heroes
- BHF community fundraising volunteers now total more than 4,000 across the UK.
Find out how to become a BHF community volunteer call 020 7487 9461
Local heroes
Across the UK, the British Heart Foundation’s 300 volunteer-led branches are the local face of the charity, giving time to raise funds in their local communities. Their activities are varied, including helping with our campaigns, holding collections and organising hundreds of events every year, from cycle rides to concerts and coffee mornings.
Action
The Crawley, Horsham and East Grinstead branch continued a fundraising project that really shone. ‘The Golden Mile’ set out to raise a mile of pound coins, with a target of £63,360. By the end of 2004 they had reached the halfway point and 2005 brought auctions, fairs, car boot sales and many other events with support from local newspapers, football clubs and even bell ringers.
The Ellesmere Branch held its seventh ‘Mere Cycle Ride’, aiming to raise over £10,000. From a modest start in 1999, with 14 bikers raising £1,000, participant numbers have soared into the hundreds and the ride itself has developed, with routes from six to 64 miles and participants of all ages from five upwards.
Newcastle and Furness branches can boast many dedicated members, none more so than Martin Lewis, a keen sportsman who plays high-level table tennis. Tragically, Martin lost two friends and fellow players to heart attacks within months of each other while playing the sport. In their memory, Martin took on a daunting 130-mile trek from Newcastle to Barrow-in-Furness, and was ably assisted by members of both branches, to raise funds for the BHF in memory of his friends.
In 2005, branches in Scotland and Northern Ireland got together for the first time at three Branch Gatherings in Huntley, Inverness and Haworth. As well as providing a chance to get to know each other, discuss events they had successfully organised and swap fundraising ideas, the Gatherings also offered an opportunity to hear about recent developments in the BHF, and the talks from BHF Heart Nurses and researchers have since inspired even greater efforts from our local fundraisers.
Impact
The Crawley, Horsham and East Grinstead’s ‘Golden Mile’ made great progress, reaching a total of £40,500 by the year’s end, and the Mere Cycle Riders really went into high gear with a total sponsorship of £17,000.
Our Newcastle and Furness branches really stepped up the pace, raising over £50,000 each during the year, with Martin’s marathon walk alone raising more than £20,000.
The Scotland and Northern Ireland Gatherings proved very popular and were well attended. The Inverness Gathering was held in the BHF ‘Highland Heartbeat Centre’ for cardiac rehabilitation in Raigmore Hospital, which gave the volunteers a chance to see the results of their efforts working in their community.
Next steps
Our Community Fundraising team aims to recruit an additional 400 volunteers to carry out key roles in local areas. We will also develop volunteer roles, to ensure we have a range tasks that allow people to make a real contribution in whatever time they have to give.
The BHF will continue to support and appreciate the dedication of the thousands of local heroes across the UK who do so much to help us in the fight against heart disease.