Beverley Heart Town, which is supported by the Beverley and Rural Community Partnership, is encouraging everyone in Beverley to support the British Heart Foundation’s Ramp up the Red Campaign in February.
They want everyone to Ramp up the Red to help fight the UK’s single biggest killer, coronary heart disease. They are asking everyone to take part in BHF’s campaign to go as red as they dare or organise a dress-up red, make-up red or party-red event this month to help fund life-saving research.
Many Beverley schools have already signed up to the event. Longcroft School is taking part on 14 February, combining it with Wear Jeans for Genes Day, which is planned for 19 February. All the money they raise will be split 50/50 between the two worthy causes.
Assistant headteacher Jonathan Chapman said,
“Over the years, students at Longcroft School have raised thousands of pounds for many charities through non-uniform days and other events. With Beverley’s continued success as a Heart Town, it seemed only natural for us to Ramp up the Red by organising a wear red day.”
“Not only will it allow students to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, but it also shows them the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Longcroft is happy to be part of this event, and we hope other schools and the wider community will also get involved and raise awareness of this important campaign.”
St. Mary’s Primary School is also getting involved, by holding a Happy Heart Day on Friday, 14 February, when pupils will be wearing red, and fund-raising for BHF. Headteacher Lucy Jordan said:
“This is a great opportunity to help to make younger people aware of the importance of looking after their hearts, and that they can start to do things when they are young. It will be a really exciting day.”
Councillor David Elvidge, chair of the Beverley and Rural Community Partnership, said:
“We have been talking with all the schools in Beverley to see if they can all get involved in this initiative. I think it is really important that everyone learns how easy it can be to start to look after their heart, even at an early age. It would be really fantastic if we could get businesses in Beverley to take part, too.”
Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer, killing nearly one-in-six men and more than one-in-ten women. It is responsible for almost 74,000 deaths in the UK each year, an average of 200 people each day. There are currently 2.3 million people in the UK living with coronary heart disease.
The BHF is the biggest funder of life-saving heart research in the UK to help everybody who suffers from a heart problem. This research has already made medical history, but funds are urgently needed to fund further research.
A free fund-raising pack is available by calling 0800 0316 316.
