STAFF from the British Heart Foundation Community Fundraising South West Team went to meet the volunteer branch of Bude to present five Long Service Awards to outstanding members of the Bude and Stratton community who have given up to 38 years’ service to help support the British Heart Foundation in its goal to beat cardiovascular disease.
A special award was also presented to the chairman on behalf of the whole group, in form of a beautiful publication, ‘50 years at the BHF’, detailing some of the amazing breakthroughs the British Heart Foundation’s funded researchers have achieved.
John Jackson, chairman of the Bude branch, said: “Everybody knows someone affected by cardiovascular disorders. We as a fundraising committee are privileged to able help towards ameliorating the problems locally and nationally.”
The evening also saw the members of the group get a refresher training course in CPR. The survival rate for a heart attack outside of hospital is dramatically low in the UK, with a survival rate of only one in 11 in the South West. The Bude and Stratton group can support anyone in the community that wishes to learn the life-saving skill, and encourages you to get in contact for information.
Joy added: “It is really important to recognise pillars of the community like the Bude and Stratton Branch members. They all work tremendously hard together to put on fun events for the community that help to keep the community spirit alive, whilst supporting a very important charity, working to fight for every heart beat.
“We urgently need more people to join our fight for every heartbeat and help power our life saving research. If you would like to get involved with a group, or are interested in setting up your own Fundraising Group to help support our vital work then please contact [email protected]”