Charity walk raises cash for heart disease sufferers

CHARITY fundraisers who took part in a walk along Weston-super-Mare promenade have raised nearly £1300 to help people with heart disease.

British Heart Foundation (BHF) volunteers, led by Paul Hobbs, handed over the cheque for £1291 to Weston Area Health Trust chairman, Chris Creswick

Fundraiser and Weston BHF volunteer Paul Hobbs has organised several sponsored walks in both Bristol and Weston for the charity.

His second family walk along the prom, held in September, attracted around 150 entrants and the money raised will be split between the BHF and the hospital's cardiology department where the money will be spent on vital portable heart monitoring and recording devices.

Consultant cardiologist Dr John Edmond and Cardiology Department Manager Dave Hartell were also at the ceremony.

They said they plan to spend the money on vital portable heart monitoring and recording devices

Mr Hartell explained: "We would like to purchase Spider Flash Devices, which are pocket-sized recording devices, costing £900 each. They store electro-cardiograph (ECG) data digitally.

"They are able to record for up to 30 days on one battery charge, while previously our devices could only last for one week. Our intention is to eventually replace all our existing one-week loop recorders with Spider Flashes.

"We also wish to purchase more Lifecard 24-hour ECG storage units that store every heartbeat for up to seven days. These are the staple recording unit of all cardiology departments and cost about £1,800."

Mr Hobbs is hoping to run the Family Walk Along the Prom for a third consecutive year later in 2013. 

He said: "I have long been an active supporter for the British Heart Foundation and all its work and have been privileged to be able to organise these fundraising walks for them.

"Weston General Hospital has been very supportive and accommodating - they kindly allow us to start our Family Walk from their grounds, which is why this year, I wanted them to have half the proceeds to buy equipment for patients from the Weston area to benefit from."

Mr Creswick said: "We would like to thank Mr Hobbs and all the kind-hearted volunteers who took part in the Family Walk Along the Prom for this money which will enable us to purchase some of this equipment.

"Cardiology, or heart health, is a very important specialty for us, with large numbers of patients, and anything we can do to improve their experience of treatment here is very welcome, and we are deeply grateful."