Make a difference and lead fight against heart disease

Anyone over the age of 16 can join this new ventureand they will then take on the task of helping raise as much money as possible to help tackle heart disease which is regarded as the UK’s biggest killer.

It is hoped the group can be set up before Christmas ready to drive home fundraising events during the festival period and Rachel Davis, fundraising manager for the British Heart Foundation in Oxfordshire, is hopeful the group can help the millions suffering from coronary heart disease in the country.

She said: “The charity would not be able to survive without its volunteers. They are the face of the charity and in their own community which is so important. Bicester has got a really nice community spirit and with all the other charities being represented in the town we thought we should be there too.”

It is estimated there are about 2.6 million people living in the UK with coronary heart disease. Every year volunteers at the charity help support National Heart Month in February to raise awareness and Mrs Davis added it was important to fight back against the country’s biggest killer.

She said: “Not many people know that heart disease kills more people in our country than cancer, just because people are more likely to get it. In fact women are three times more likely to get heart disease than breast cancer.

“We don’t want to put people off but saying they have to done something big to help the charity. Any contribution however big or small will help pioneer life-saving research, and it can be something that you enjoy doing too. We even fund cardiac nurses who work at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital as well so people can see where the money they raise goes towards.

Charitable events in the past have included a quiz night, barn dance and even a sponsored walk. The charity is also starting to have a presence in Oxfordshire with the emergence of its shops and even furniture stores, where people can donate their old and unwanted items to be sold with the money going straight back to the charity.

Volunteers who are interested in being part of this new group in Bicester can email [email protected] or call her on 01905 863181 for more information.