Keeping active when you're older is vital to your heart health. Many of our 11,000 BHF Shops volunteers, like Gladys Pearson, are over 65, and find helping out in our shops certainly helps them keep fit.

Despite having had open-heart surgery, Gladys, 82, has been a volunteer at our Fareham Shop since 1992. She told us: "I saw BHF leaflets about volunteering when I was in hospital and thought it would be a good way to give something back." Gladys and the team are much valued by the Shop's Manager Patricia Sheridan: "They're very loyal and give a lot of time to the BHF. I was asked to nominate an outstanding individual for an award from the Council, but I just couldn't choose - so the whole team won!"

In 2007, the BHF was giving out awards too. Long Service Awards were received by 2,500 volunteers, including 55 who've supported us for 15 years or more.

The number of Shops volunteers has almost doubled in the last two years, but we urgently need your support to help us beat heart disease. To find out how you can become a BHF Shops volunteer please visit bhf.org.uk/volunteering