Making a difference in Cookstown, Northern Ireland

We've recently launched a huge £9 million programme called Hearty Lives, and we're using the money to help people in isolated or deprived areas to look after their hearts.

One of the first places on our long list was Cookstown in County Tyrone, NI. This lovely picturesque town nonetheless suffers from the third highest premature death rate from heart disease in Northern Ireland, so we're setting up an innovative £200,000 heart health programme for them.

We'll be concentrating first on the parts of Cookstown where people are most likely to die early from heart disease. We've got a nurse educator on board, who's going to visit community groups and workplaces, like local meat factory Vion, to give free advice and support.

We're also going to train up local people with emergency life saving skills, and helping heart patients get access to cardiac rehabilitation, which can dramatically improve quality of life!

Hearty Lives is already doing life-saving work in Hastings, Dundee and Newham, and we're all set to help bring help to even more places in real need of better heart health. Keep an eye out next week, when we'll be announcing our next project!

Are you ready to see Red?

Get set to go Red for Heart in 2010 - get everything you need in our
free fundraising packs (that's it on the right).

Plus, our new Red for Heart Facebook fan page is now open for business!

It's a great place to start meeting and talking with other fundraisers about what you'll be up to for National Wear Red Day on 26 February.

Latest from Leanne's blog

"When I woke I was not a happy lady. Apparently I threatened to sue anyone and everyone around me, including a poor student nurse who had no idea what she had done wrong. But I blame that on the lawyer in me, I must have been dreaming about my degree - which is a bit sad..."

Catch up with the latest post from our young heart patient Leanne (pictured above) who's just had the heart valve operation she's been waiting for and writing about for us.

Find out how it went, and how she's feeling now on our sister site for young people yheart.net

Don't spook your heart this Halloween's

Here's a top Halloween tip...

Did you know that pumpkins count towards your 5-a-day for fruit and veg!

Check out some more of our top tips for how to have a heart healthy Halloween here

Blogging from the heart

"A lot of exciting things have happened recently. Not only did I get an operation date I got a new car!"

Leanne (pictured right) is a 21-year-old heart patient waiting for a heart valve replacement operation.

She's currently writing a regular blog for our young people's website yheart, and is into her fourth week of posting.

Read her latest entry here

Thanks to the Think Tank!

Our Young People's Outreach Officer Rory Miller (that's him on the far right in the photo) reports from the latest BHF Teen Think Tank, held in Manchester...

"The Think Tank was attended by 16 young people plus their parents, and we were joining for the first time with the Hearts4Teens Group, a cardiac youth group for young people with heart conditions based in north-west England.

"The Think Tank is made up of young people with heart conditions within the UK, and we meet up twice a year to discuss ideas and get feedback and advice on our projects for young people. Their contribution is invaluable to the work the BHF does for teenagers with a heart condition.

"Many of the young people who came along have known each other for a while now, so it was a good chance for them to catch up and share stories about what they had been up to.

"It was also a good chance for their parents to meet and talk with each other. For many of them, this is the first time they speak to another parent of a child with a heart condition.

"Our weekend included a guided tour of the City of Manchester Stadium. Even if your footballing allegiances lie elsewhere, you couldn’t help but be impressed by the stadium. I certainly was, and it's a far cry from my own team Luton Town's ground!

"It was a busy but extremely fun two days, and the young people we met gave us great feedback which we'll use to improve our websites, factsheets and information for young people with heart conditions."

The Think Tank runs twice a year and visits various parts of the UK.

If you're aged 13-19 with a heart condition and want more information please visit yheart.net/meet or email meetatteenheart@bhf.org.uk

Brighton Rocks!

Mike Knapton, our Associate Medical Director, joined our advocacy team Julia, Gillian and Katie in Brighton this week at the annual Labour party conference.

A late night at the main health hotel reception saw our crack team of lobbyists discuss Dodgeball and our policies on physical activity with MPs including Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Health.

The next day was just as busy, with Mike and the team meeting Health Minister Ann Keen MP. She expressed a clear commitment to addressing CVD over the next ten years, and invited the BHF to continue to push hard on cardiac rehab.

Julia and Katie also buttonholed Lord Mandelson on cigarette vending machines as he made for the lift after finishing a cup of tea. He knew all about the BHF’s campaign even if he is against a full ban!

The Guardian’s political editor Michael White introduced our fringe meeting with the Stroke Association and Marie Curie Cancer Care by introducing "the 3 top killers and an MP".

Mike had a lively discussion with a supportive audience, stressing the importance of prevention and highlighting BHF Hearty Lives programme.

All in all, a profitable trip to the seaside!