Meet our 2024 Outstanding Contribution winners
Our 2024 awards saw joint Outstanding Contribution winners, Ann Hartely and Brian and Ruth Thurtle.
Ann Hartely
Ann has been proudly supporting BHF since the day she retired in 2008. She never hesitates to venture out whatever the weather, every weekend, collecting in pubs and social clubs in the Greater Manchester area.
Astonishingly, Ann has so far collected an unbelievable £375,000! The inspiration for her tremendous fundraising efforts comes from having sadly lost five siblings, all under the age of 60, to heart and circulatory conditions. Her ultimate aim is to raise £500,000 before she reaches the age of 80!
Ann reflects, “I'm doing it to get the money for research for my brothers. If it could buy my brother a heart, then I'd be out every night of the week.”
Brian & Ruth Thurtle
In 1998, Brian and Ruth’s world was shattered when their 20-year-old son, James, collapsed and died suddenly from a cardiac arrest after playing football. James’ death was caused by an undiagnosed heart condition.
Despite their unimaginable grief, they were driven to create a legacy in their football-mad son’s memory. Together, they came up with the idea of knitting and selling miniature woollen figures – mostly in the colours of James’ beloved Norwich City Football Club. For more than two decades Brian and Ruth have lovingly devoted every waking hour to their knitting venture – raising more than £55,000 for BHF-funded lifesaving research.
