Dr Dai Lloyd AM thanks volunteers at British Heart Foundation Parliamentary Reception
Dr Dai Lloyd AM attended British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru’s parliamentary reception, “Beating Heartbreak Forever” in the National Assembly for Wales on Tuesday 26 March which was focusing on the immense contribution of volunteers to the charity’s research lifesaving work.
Dr Lloyd met staff and volunteers who travelled to Cardiff Bay for the reception and heard about the work that goes into generating vital donations, and making sales that all contribute to the research work and health care projects of the BHF. Guests heard how the annual volunteering contribution in Wales of the retail volunteers alone is 300,000 hours a year.
Across Wales there are currently around 2,500 premature deaths from heart and circulatory disease each year. Thanks to community fundraisers, shop volunteers and many others who give up their time across the country, the BHF is able to fund almost £5m worth of life saving research to support the fight against heart and circulatory diseases in Wales.
Dr Lloyd met volunteers and heard from some who had been working in their local shop for over 20 years. Jovita Jones, a community fundraising volunteer told how her local fundraising group has raised over £60,000, and Katie Clark, a junior doctor and Park-Runner has become a volunteer CPR trainer since helping save a life at a ParkRun.
The Consultant Cardiologist and the Specialist Nurse of the recently funded Miles Frost Inherited Cardiac Conditions project from AMBU and Hywel Dda also travelled to the Senedd to talk about the impact and importance of helping to diagnose inherited heart conditions in families.
In South Wales West, 64,100 people are estimated to be living with heart and circulatory disease, and more than 86,090 have been diagnosed with high blood pressure. The reception focused on 12 innovative projects in Wales and across the UK which are funded by BHF fund research into
prevention, treatment and cure of these conditions.
Dr Lloyd AM said:
“I am pleased that some of my constituents who volunteer for the BHF were able to travel to the reception last night. BHF’s lifesaving research can only be done thanks to staff and volunteers who all deserve a huge thanks for their hard work to raise funds.”
“I am amazed at the breadth of volunteering work that takes place across Wales to support the work of the BHF and to spread important training such as CPR in communities.”
Adam Fletcher, Head of BHF Cymru, said:
“It was great to welcome Dr Lloyd to the Senedd last night. Research is vital to ending heart disease. Every donation made, every hour volunteered and every person who supports BHF makes a huge difference.
“Roughly 1 in 4 people are affected by heart and circulatory diseases and we can see by how many volunteers want to donate their time to the BHF just what an impact this has. Through our research and healthcare innovations we are working to beat heartbreak forever.”
To volunteer at a shop, make a donation or find out more about the BHF’s research, visit www.bhf.org.uk
