Science
BHF partners with ITN Business for news-style In a Heartbeat programme for World Heart Day
We have partnered with ITN Business to produce a news-style programme to raise awareness of heart and circulatory diseases.
Hosted by Louise Minchin from the ITN London Studio, In a Heartbeat launched yesterday on World Heart Day (29 September).
Sudden cardiac death
Heart and circulatory diseases cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK. And as most people think of this as something that only impacts older people, In a Heartbeat focuses on sudden cardiac death, which claims the lives of 12 young people under 35 each week in the UK.
The programme focuses on the story of Hayley Christie, whose son Myles died suddenly in 2023. Myles was a happy, healthy 15-year-old boy when he lost his life after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest at home in his bedroom. In a tragic twist of fate, the cardiac arrest happened on the same day, and in the same way that had killed his father eight years before.
Myles was rushed to hospital but couldn't be saved, leaving his devastated family searching for answers.
“I felt like there was something wrong with his heart because they both went into cardiac arrest the same way, the same day. Was there something wrong? Is there something that they've missed? Is there something that wasn't picked up, but there were just no answers,” Hayley says in the film.
“He had a healthy heart. No indications, nothing was found. It's really difficult, but I just have to keep going and just know that Myles is with me. And he's never going to leave me.”
Help find answers
The programme features an exclusive interview with our chief executive Dr Charmaine Griffiths, who discusses what we are doing to help families find answers through the funding of pioneering research projects.
We are leading the way in cutting edge research and innovation into heart and circulatory disease and sudden cardiac death with studies underway across the UK and around the world. This includes the work of Professor Elijah Behr at St George’s, University of London, who is featured in the film. He is hunting the genetic clues behind unexplained cardiac arrests.
Damion Mower, our Director of Brand, Acquisition and Retail Marketing said: "We’re thrilled to be working with ITN Business on this special programme for World Heart Day. 12 young people under 35 are lost to sudden cardiac death in the UK each week, leaving loved ones in immeasurable despair.
"We want to encourage the public to support BHF as we continue to fund the groundbreaking research that will help save young lives for generations to come.
“This work is only the beginning. Together, with your help, we can protect precious hearts and create a future where young people dying from sudden cardiac death is a distant memory.”
WATCH THE PROGRAMME