Golfers get CPR and defibrillator support from new golfing app Posted on May 1, 2025May 29, 2025 by laure@heartresearch.org.uk Course defibrillator locator & CPR instructions on Motocaddy app welcomed by Heart Research UK Motocaddy, the world’s top-selling powered trolley brand, is upgrading its popular free-to-use GPS app to incorporate potential lifesaving features that indicate the location of on-course defibrillators and provide golfers with CPR instructions to administer to anyone suffering a cardiac arrest when playing golf.The addition of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) locator and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) instructions has been welcomed by leading charity Heart Research UK. So far, more than 700 golf clubs around the UK and Ireland have registered the location of one or more defibrillators with the app, which also and features a simple six-step guide on ‘How to Perform CPR.’ Helen Wilson, Head of Research at Heart Research UK, said: “It is estimated that there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year and the overall survival rate is less than 1 in 10.“Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent and performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival in some cases. We fully support the work being done by Motocaddy and we hope that the number of golf courses that offers access to at least one defibrillator increases. ”Golfers get CPR and defibrillator support from new golfing app
Bloom Boutique Launches New Necklace and Extends Partnership with Heart Research UK Posted on February 7, 2025May 23, 2025 by laure@heartresearch.org.uk We are delighted to share that our valued corporate partner, Bloom Boutique, has launched a brand-new necklace as part of their ongoing commitment to tackling heart diseases in women. Every year, twice as many women in the UK lose their lives to heart diseases than to breast cancer. Tragically, many of these deaths could be prevented – women often face delays in receiving medical help, a 50% higher chance of misdiagnosis after a heart attack compared to men, and a harder time accessing treatment. Through our continued partnership with Bloom Boutique, we aim to raise awareness, drive change, and support life-saving initiatives to improve heart health across the UK. The latest edition of Bloom Boutique’s charity heart necklace builds on the success of their previous design and coincides with the renewal of their partnership with Heart Research UK for a second year. With every necklace sold, a portion of proceeds will be donated to fund vital research and outreach, reaffirming Bloom Boutique’s commitment to making a difference. This collaboration has already had a powerful impact, raising essential funds for pioneering medical research and community health checks. By purchasing this beautiful necklace, you’re not just adding a timeless piece to your jewellery collection, you’re also helping to protect the hearts of women everywhere. Get yours today and wear your support for women’s heart health. Together, we can save lives and spark change for our mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends across the UK. Get you necklace today
Heart Research UK and Just Strong Partnership: Becky’s Story Posted on August 22, 2024May 23, 2025 by laure@heartresearch.org.uk “The idea that, as a young, active, and fit woman who was always on the go, I could be going into heart failure didn’t cross my mind, and it certainly didn’t cross the minds of the people around me” Becky Giblin, a Just Strong ambassador, opens up about her life-changing heart failure diagnosis at just 22 years old. Now at 29, Becky shares her inspiring journey as part of a new partnership between Heart Research UK’s HER disease campaign and Just Strong. Becky shares: “When I was admitted to the hospital, my ejection fraction or my heart function was at 13%. But thanks to incredible medication, wonderful research and a medical team that believed in me, I was able to improve my heart function based only on medications.” In the past six years, Becky has made remarkable progress in her heart health. Today, she leads a full life — working a regular job, staying active at the gym, and enjoying time with friends each week. “There was a life on the other side of my diagnosis, but it is not lost on me how often that is not true for so many people, particularly for young women. I was one of the lucky ones, but the statistics show there are far too many of us losing our lives to heart conditions.” Buy your limited edition t-shirt here
An outdoor gym for the female heart Posted on March 4, 2024May 28, 2025 by Sarah Gill Heart Research UK and The Great Outdoor Gym Company (TGOGC) have joined forces to create the ultimate outdoor fitness space that is more female-friendly. Studies show that up to 40% of women are not meeting the recommended weekly exercise target of 150 minutes, leading to the alarming increase in heart disease among women. To address this issue, we are inviting women and girls to co-create our upcoming outdoor gym designs so that they can be tailored to better meet their needs. Your participation in our survey will provide valuable insights into what you consider essential in an outdoor fitness environment. Your input will help shape the future of fitness spaces and empower women to prioritise their cardiovascular health. About The Great Outdoor Gym Company Co-founded by female designer, Georgie Delaney MBE, The Great Outdoor Gym Company has pioneered outdoor gyms in the UK and has installed over 2500 worldwide. Their vision is help create healthier people and a healthier planet. Georgie wants to break TGO’s own mould and develop new inspiring designs that women feel excited to belong to. Georgie Delaney MBE at the Great Outdoor Gym Company: “Co-creation is a key part of our design process. We also value inclusivity, sustainability, diversity, safety and quality.” Helen Flaherty at Heart Research UK: “We are absolutely thrilled to be partnering with the Great Outdoor Gym Company, which aligns perfectly with our goal to get people more active. We want to see physical activity become a fundamental part of life for all women and girls. Increasing physical activity is crucial for reducing the risk of coronary heart disease because it helps with maintaining a healthy weight, managing cholesterol levels and reducing high blood pressure.”
Heart Research UK and Indian Block Print Co. Partnership: Maggie’s Story Posted on November 14, 2023May 28, 2025 by Sarah Gill By Olivia Schofield “My heart attack came out of nowhere with no warning. ”Maggie Sheehan, Founder of the Indian Block Print Co., and her daughter Tess Hucker are sharing their experience after Maggie’s heart attack, as part of a new partnership between Heart Research UK and The Indian Block Print Co., which has created a limited-edition heart tea towel block print kits. In 2014, Maggie Sheehan was travelling to Heathrow Airport on the M25 when she began to feel unwell. Then, the 58-year-old was overcome with a tight feeling in her chest and suddenly passed out. Her daughter, Tess Hucker who runs the company with her, was driving at the time and had to pull onto the hard shoulder and call 999. Shortly after Tess made the emergency call, Maggie regained consciousness. Maggie, 67, said: “I couldn’t move my upper arms and the pain was so bad, it went all across my chest. I came to the frightening realisation that I am either having a heart attack or a stroke.” At that moment, 20-year-old Tess was unsure what to do to help her mum and felt completely helpless. Tess, now 29, said: “My mum was so frightened. She was in a lot of pain. It makes me emotional to relive it because Mum started saying goodbye to me. It was horrible.” “I was one of the lucky ones, I’m here to tell my story, but sadly there are so many people who aren’t as lucky and a simple heart health check with your GP could be lifesaving.” When the ambulance arrived, they quickly identified that Maggie was having a heart attack, and she was taken to Harefield Hospital. Maggie explained: “I remember being in a lot of pain, but it happened so quickly. When we got to the hospital, they quickly identified that I had a blockage in my heart, and they were going to put a stent in.” After the surgery, Maggie went to rehabilitation at her local hospital, where she made a full recovery and was given advice on how to improve her lifestyle. Both Maggie and Tess decided to get matching heart tattoos on their wrists after their experience to mark the spot where Maggie’s lifesaving stent was inserted. Maggie continued: “My heart attack came out of nowhere with no warning, so it would have been a silent killer for me. I’ve always thought if I’d been on my own that day, that would have been the end of it.” Inspired by Maggie’s and Tess’s experience, the Indian Block Print Co. has partnered with national heart charity, Heart Research UK, to raise money and awareness of heart diseases in women by creating a limited-edition heart tea towel block printing craft kit. Maggie explained: “I was told my blood pressure, and my cholesterol were very high. I hadn’t prioritised my health before I had the heart attack. There was nothing wrong with my health. I felt I was healthy and normal. “My message to all women is to go get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked as soon as possible. It came out of nowhere, so please don’t let denial get in the way of your health. I was one of the lucky ones, I’m here to tell my story, but sadly there are so many people who aren’t as lucky and a simple heart health check with your GP could be lifesaving.”£10 from every sale of the heart tea towel block print craft kits will be donated to Heart Research UK, supporting their lifesaving research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart diseases. The Indian Block Print Co. and Heart Research UK: limited edition heart tea towel block print kit is available to buy now from: www.theindianblockprintco.com
Healthy tips for staycationers from Caravan Guard Posted on September 13, 2021May 28, 2025 by Sarah Gill Kids are back at school but holiday season and weekends away are still going strong. Some of us have sneaked abroad but many are choosing to stay in the UK. Caravans, motorhomes and holiday parks are more popular than ever. What’s more fun than setting off on a road trip and discovering beautiful parts of the UK, places that many of us had never thought to visit before the last few years. Going on holiday definitely means relaxing, but it doesn’t have to mean you stop focusing on keeping healthy and active. We worked with our fabulous partners Caravan Guard to create two Healthy Holiday Tips. Caravan Guard provide insurance cover for touring caravan, campervan, static caravan and motorhome owners. They donate £1 to Heart Research UK every time a customer takes out a paperless policy, and, since our partnership began, they have raised an incredible £130,000 for our life-saving research. Liz Harrison, PR & Communications Manager at Caravan Guard, said: “We were delighted to be able to offer our customers some simple tips for staying heart healthy when on their caravan and motorhome holidays. Owning a leisure vehicle or holiday caravan is the perfect way to keep active in the great outdoors and with on-board cooking facilities it’s really easy to prepare lots of healthy snacks and meals. We loved the hacks from the experts at Heart Research UK.” You can check out the tips here Healthy heart tips when on your caravan or motorhome holidays Tips for being heart healthy on your caravan holidays “It’s a pleasure to work with Caravan Guard and we are so grateful for their ongoing support. In return for the consistent funds they raise for us, we are always there to support their employee’s health and wellbeing and we were excited to share our healthy holiday suggestions with their customers.” Isabel McKenzie, Corporate Development Officer, Heart Research UK To discuss a purpose-led partnership with Heart Research UK, please contact Isabel, Corporate Development Officer by emailing isabel@heartresearch.org.uk
Caravan Guard smash fundraising milestone Posted on February 3, 2020May 26, 2025 by Sarah Gill Heart Research UK’s long standing corporate partner Caravan Guard have broken a major fundraising milestone, having now raised more than £110,000 for our pioneering research. Caravan Guard, who specialise in insurance for caravans and motorhomes, introduced their Paperless Policies initiative 10 years ago, which sees them donate £1 to Heart Research UK each time a new caravan, campervan or motorhome insurance customer opts for their policy documents to be emailed rather than posted out. Throughout 2019, Caravan Guard’s Paperless Policies campaign and other fundraising efforts raised a hearty £17,645, pushing the total gifted in the last decade to an incredible £110,887. Caravan Guard staff have also raised money by taking on challenges such as the Great North Run half marathon and running healthy heart events. A “love yourself” event saw the charity deliver health and lifestyle checks and staff were encouraged to make 2020 the year to care completely about their health, as well as others. Associate Director Laura Wilby presented Heart Research UK with a cheque for £17,645 during the Halifax-based company’s healthy heart day. “We’re delighted to have raised so much money for such a great cause in 2019 and absolutely thrilled to have smashed through the £100,000 mark in the last decade,” said Laura. “A big thank you to our customers too, who have chosen to go paperless so we can pass on all this money to help with the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.” Heart Research UK CEO, Kate Bratt-Farrar, said: “Over the last 10 years, we have been blown away time and again with the generosity of the Caravan Guard customers and staff. To have raised over £110,000 is a truly remarkable achievement, and we can’t thank them enough. “The money that Caravan Guard has raised will be used to benefit patients as soon as possible, funding life-saving research into the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.” To find out more about how your company can work with Heart Research UK to help us take on heart disease, visit our corporate partnership pages.