Fundraising
King’s Birthday Honour for 106-year-old heart attack survivor
Joan Willett, from Hastings, won our hearts after walking more than 17 miles up and down a hill outside her care home during the pandemic – raising an incredible £60,000 for us.
The double heart attack survivor, who is just weeks away from celebrating her 107th birthday, has now received a British Empire Medal. These are awarded for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the crown.
Touching hearts
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, our chief executive said: “Joan is just such an exceptional person and her incredible fundraising for the BHF during the pandemic touched all of our hearts. It's just wonderful to see her recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours list.“Having been a heart patient herself Joan knows just how important research is, and the £60,000 she raised will fund more research to help countless others live long and fulfilling lives – just like her. Everyone in our BHF family is immensely proud of Joan and we are thrilled she has received this national honour.”
The former teacher, who now becomes Ms Joan Willett BEM, had lifesaving bypass surgery and a heart valve replacement after her second heart attack aged 82.
After moving into her care home, Joan started walking up and down the hill outside to stay fit. But after seeing Captain Tom on TV she was inspired to use her daily exercise to help fund heart research.
Earlier this year she was awarded a prestigious Prime Minister’s Points of Light Award in recognition of her fundraising efforts and even had the hill she walked named after her. Now her latest recognition in the King’s Birthday Honours list is the crowning glory in her incredible journey.
Joan said: “When I got the letter from the cabinet office informing me that I was being recommended to King Charles for this honour I literally couldn’t believe it. It was such a wonderful surprise and something that I could never have imagined would happen to me. But I’ve had to keep it a secret for a while until it was officially announced and couldn’t tell anyone, so that was difficult.
“I feel so very honoured and flattered, but I don’t think I have done anything special. I couldn’t have embarked on my fundraising challenge for the BHF without my friends and all the wonderful staff here who have been fantastic and supported me every step of the way. So really, this great honour is for all of us. When I came to live here over 20 years ago after my second heart attack, never did I ever think I would be getting an honour from the King!”
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