Meet some of our volunteers

It's amazing what our volunteers do for us. By giving time to us they help save lives.

if you'd like to fundraise in your local community fill out a volunteer enquiry form here

Bryan & Bethan Edwards

Bryan Edwards has been volunteering with the BHF for several years now, after seeing an appeal for support in his local paper. His young daughter, Bethan, was born with congenital heart disease. After several major heart operations, Bethan, now aged four, is doing well, although it is likely that one day she will require a heart transplant.

Bryan and his family are eternally grateful to the BHF for the pioneering research work we undertake, and so he volunteers to help at local events and collections, helping to raise vital funds to continue the fight against heart disease.

Professor Board

Ron Board (pictured with his wife Pat) has suffered from high blood pressure since he was 18 years old. Ten years ago he survived a heart attack.

Ron has been a very active event organiser and fundraiser for the BHF since 2002, initially with the Trowbridge Branch. One of Ron’s passions is walking with his wife, Pat, and their dog, Jemma.  He combines that passion with his interest in country churches by organising popular annual BHF walks through the Wiltshire countryside, often visiting a number of churches of interest along the way. 

Ron also organises cash collections at his local supermarkets in support of our fundraising campaigns. In 2007 the Boards and their neighbours organised a very successful combined “open gardens” afternoon with refreshments laid on.

Ron says: “The BHF does a fantastic job promoting very important medical research. We should be grateful that this independent charity supports our universities, thereby providing them with a vital source of funding free from government influence. I am delighted to be able to assist the work of the charity.”

Glan Clwyd Branch

Our Glan Clwyd Branch will celebrate 25 years of fundraising in North Wales in 2009. They have a Silver Anniversary target of raising £25,000, with many special events planned, including a Heart Party.

The branch has over 25 active members – one for every year they have been running! Through the branch’s fundraising efforts, local GP surgeries, leisure centres, ambulances and hospitals have received ECG machines, defibrillators and other equipment.

In 2007/2008 they raised £17,000 to help the us beat heart disease.

John Leggott College

Students from John Leggott College, Scunthorpe, set up a BHF Fundraising Group and have raised almost £2,000 during the academic year.

Activities have ranged from designing and selling Christmas cards to organising a Diwali cultural evening and a sponsored Santa Jog. The Students Union arranged a fun run and international students took part in the BHF’s Hearts First Humber Bridge Walk in September.

A press group has formed to produce Viva magazine, which is produced monthly and sold at 50p per copy with all proceeds donated to the BHF. 

Learning mentor Sabrina Marjara, one of the staff members, said: “Setting up the fundraising group has been a fantastic experience, not only for the students but for me as well. They have got really involved in their fundraising efforts and I am very proud.”

Derby Supporter Group

The Derby Supporter Group was formed in January and has already raised around £10,000 from hosting a cheese and wine evening, organising the Derby Dawdle Dash and holding supermarket collections.

The group is going from strength to and has eight members. The chair, Paul Taylor, is also a heart transplant patient.

Their next task is to organise a Heart Walk in September and it is hoped in the future the group will develop in to a branch.

Keith Fundraising Group

When June Simpson and Rosalind Adie saw a local media appeal, it really struck a chord, and they were both keen to get involved.

They formed the Keith Fundraising Group and did a range of activities, including a Body Shop party in the local pub, a three-day collection at a local drama club production and five sweepstakes. The group raised £1,100 for the BHF in their first three months.

See the 2008 Annual Report for their full story

 

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