BHF Community Champion Volunteers not only support at fundraising events, they also build relationships and engage with groups in their local area to educate, increase awareness on the importance of our work, and inspire others to support us. Without these volunteers, we could not continue our lifesaving research, they are quite simply – champions!
We caught up with one of our wonderful Community Champion Volunteers, David Dickie, who started volunteering with us 12 years ago to give back to BHF after the support he received following his heart attack.
David, tell us about yourself – how often do you volunteer? What do you do when you aren’t volunteering?
I volunteer whenever I can. I organise collections for the BHF every year, attend cheque presentations with local people and groups who have raised money for the BHF and say a few words of thanks when needed.
I'm retired now and love spending time with my grandchildren Noah, George and Maggie. I get out for walks when I can and meet up with friends I knew from work every couple of weeks for coffee. I also love watching the motorbike racing and have been over to the races myself a few times.
What inspired you to sign up and volunteer?
In 2010, I suffered a sudden heart attack. Thankfully, I made a great recovery, and I was really grateful for the support of the BHF. I was inspired to do something when another BHF volunteer spoke about the BHF at a heart support group that I was attending. After my recovery, I decided that I wanted to give something back for the support I had received so I started fundraising and volunteering. I held lots of events including coffee mornings, bike rides and I even sat in a bath of beans! These days I like organising collections and helping out in the community whenever I am needed. I like knowing that the work that I do could be helping to save someone else's life.
What do you enjoy about volunteering in a Community Champion Volunteer role?
I have loved making new friends and getting out to chat with people. When I am collecting in my local supermarket, people really open up about their experiences when they see the BHF banners and buckets. It's great to hear their stories and I enjoy telling them mine. The people I talk to remind me of how important this work is.
Would you encourage others to get involved? And if so, why?
Yes. It's a wonderful thing to do. Volunteering for the BHF is really flexible, so I do what I can when I can. It's amazing to think that the things that I am doing are contributing to helping and saving the lives of people affected by heart conditions.
I am really proud to support the work that the BHF does. From the research to the advice and support they offer heart attack survivors like myself, it’s all about making a difference to the lives of local people. My family and I have been blessed with so much. We are always grateful, and it is a privilege to share the joy.
Thank you, David for all the support and commitment to BHF over the last 12 years.
If David’s story has inspired you to become a Community Champion, take a look at the available roles here.