Local heart charity launches its Christmas Appeal to save a life in Wales
Local charity Welsh Hearts is urging people to dig deep and make a donation in the countdown to Christmas to save a life in Wales.
Many people may be shocked to hear that heart disease is one of Wales’ biggest killers. There are 8000 sudden cardiac arrests outside hospital in Wales every year. Survival rates are extremely poor – only 3%. But with timely intervention and the added benefit of a defibrillator (AED), the survival rate increases to 50% or more. Welsh Hearts is continually fundraising to secure a better future where nobody dies prematurely from heart disease. To date the charity has placed over 230 defibrillators across Wales and trained over 7000 people with life-saving skills.
Sharon Owen, Charity Director for Welsh Hearts said:
“Christmas is a time when people are thinking of happy times shared with their loved ones. However, for many people Christmas is also a difficult time as they remember those they have lost. Our Hearts of Gold Christmas Appeal not only celebrates the lives of loved ones but it will help us fight heart disease. Every single penny we raise stays in Wales and goes towards equipping local schools and communities with defibrillators and life-saving training. We also run a heart screening programme to identify heart problems early on. Your donation big or small will help us save a life in Wales this Christmas.”
For the first time people will be able to view donations and how much is being raised for the Hearts of Gold Christmas Appeal by visiting the Welsh Hearts website and adding your heart and donation via the dedicated page: www.welshhearts.org/
Notes
A case study below and picture attached to the press release is available for use alongside the story above.
June’s story
“In 2012 we suddenly lost our son Jack. Jack was a fit and healthy boy who represented Wales all across Europe on a number of occasions in Taekwondo. Jack was an A* student and had been successful in gaining a scholarship at Cardiff Sixth Form College. Jack’s death came as a complete shock to us, as Jack had never been ill. To this day, we still have had no answers to why our precious boy fell asleep.
After Jack passed away we found out that we aren’t alone and there are hundreds of other parents who have lost their dear children too. Every week, 12 young people in the UK die suddenly from an undiagnosed heart condition.
Since Jack’s death we have worked in partnership with Welsh Hearts to raise money for heart screening programmes and defibrillators for schools in Wales. We have also visited schools to teach pupils and staff life saving skills and how to use their defibrillators.
We have found much comfort working with Welsh Hearts and knowing that other young people will be saved as a result of heart screening programmes and defibrillators being funded. However, facing each Christmas without Jack is extremely difficult. We would urge everyone to donate to the Hearts of Gold appeal so that no other families have to face Christmas without their children or loved ones.”
