Volunteering with BHF is a rewarding experience, where you can meet new people, learn new skills, all while helping to fund lifesaving research.
Volunteer Ann Hughes is a perfect example. She has been a huge supporter for BHF Widnes shop for 30 years, and volunteering has really helped her too.
Ann volunteers two shifts per week, says volunteering has helped her make friends, and describe the shop as “friendly atmosphere, and we have nice customers”.
Another motivation behind volunteering is that it feels like she is giving back to the BHF. In September 2023 her husband Ray, while on a walk with friends, suffered a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, a friend with him was a North West Ambulance Service volunteer, so recognised the signs of a cardiac arrest and instantly started CPR, while their other friends called for assistance.
More than 10 NHS staff were involved in treating and saving Ray at the scene, including three paramedics, an emergency medical technician, a critical care doctor and an air ambulance pilot. In addition to the 999 call handler, dispatchers and control staff who co-ordinated the crew and helicopter to arrive at the scene.
Since then Ray had a successful triple bypass operation and has thankfully recovered.
It’s moments like these that highlight the importance of learning CPR. You can learn CPR with our Revivr tool, it’s super easy and doesn’t take long to do but could one day save a life like Ray’s.
Not only that, it’s also our wonderful volunteers who help make a difference to those with heart and circulatory diseases by supporting us through spending time at our shops and stores or fundraising events. Find out more here, how you could make a difference like Ann.
Thank you, Ann for your ongoing support for the last 30 years!