March 2010
As part of National Heart Month, Spire Dunedin Hospital, in Reading set about raising money and awareness of for the British Heart Foundation. With the support of their large private Cardiology department in Berkshire, the hospital managed to raise £403.00 for the charity, £201.50 came from hospital fundraising efforts, and Hospital Director Paul Duhig matched the effort to bring the total to £403.00.
Events started at the beginning of February with sales of red heart badges at the hospital receptions. The fundraising came to a head on Friday 26th February, National wear red day, as staff all wore something red, and a cake sale was held in the hospital.
Dr Charlie McKenna, Consultant Cardiologist, explains why supporting a national charity such as the British Heart Foundation is so important:
“Coronary heart disease remains the primary cause of premature death in the UK. It accounts for 300,000 heart attacks per year, which equates to one every 2 minutes.
"Heart disease may be inherited but many of the risk factors are attributable to lifestyle behaviors. Smoking, physical inactivity and poor dietary habits are all reversible contributors. The impact of a single lifestyle change such as stopping smoking is substantial.
"It is important to maintain a high awareness regarding the prevalence of heart disease and what we can all do as individuals and groups to reduce our own risk factor profiles and educate others.”
Spire Dunedin Hospital would like to thank all their staff and patients that contributed to the charity throughout the month.