Preston charity Heartbeat launches plea for more financial support
The service, based at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium, has been running for 46 years but there now are fears for its future amidst a challenging economic climate.
Preston based charity Heartbeat is urgently seeking more financial support to continue its life changing work for nearly 1,000 people across Lancashire.
The service, based at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium, has been offering rehabilitation programmes to people with heart problems across the North West for more than 45 years.
Staff are now urging local people and businesses to support them, to safeguard the charity's future amidst a challenging economic climate.
The charity's CEO Louise Bache said: "Heartbeat has helped thousands of people through some of the most difficult times of their lives. Not only on a physical level but also on a mental and social level. In our classes we create an environment which gives class members the opportunity to meet those who have had similar life experiences and understand what they have gone through, discuss their treatments/medications and talk to people who understand. We are proud of the social environment we have created.
"Our utility bills have increased by £50,000 since last year, as have the majority of our expenses. We are finding fundraising becoming more difficult with the cost of living rising for everyone and Heartbeat does not receive government funding, or NHS funding and we are not affiliated with the British Heart Foundation. Our funding relies 100% on voluntary donations from people who access our services, play our lottery, and take part in our fundraising events. We also receive support from local community groups and businesses as well as grant making bodies.
"We are looking for more businesses to support our charity through a variety of ways from volunteer days, fundraising events, and sponsorship of our classes. By raising funds and awareness; businesses and their staff can improve heart health and deliver real change in their community helping people to live healthier , happier lives with the ones they love."
Debbie Crossley is one of the charity's cardiac physiologists who helps to deliver the rehabilitation programmes to patients: "After 46 years it would be a terrible shame if Heartbeat wasn't here anymore. It might not be yourself that needs us, it might be a member of your family, or may be a member of your family three years down the line. But as a charity, if we're not able to continue due to funding, we won't be here to help your family down the line."
Heartbeat's services are available to anyone who's had a heart attack, heart surgery, any other vascular problem, or if they are at high risk of developing one.
Debbie continued: "People who live in this area are very lucky to have somewhere like Heartbeat to come because there aren't many areas in the country offering anything like this. People can either be referred by a health professional or they can self-refer to be assessed and join one of our exercise programmes.
"The unique thing about our exercise classes is that people are fully assessed before they join. We want to know that there's nothing untoward going on with their heart before they exercise. If there was an emergency and someone had a cardiac arrest or a heart attack in the class, the staff are all fully trained to deal with that emergency."
Phil Reece from Clayton-Le-Woods in Chorley has been using Heartbeat's services since 2017 after he suffered a cardiac arrest close to the finish line of the Manchester 10K running race.
"I fell in front of a paramedic. I could feel that I was going to be unwell so I went straight towards the ambulance and fell in front of them, which was very lucky. Apparently I was out for two and a half minutes.
"Once I woke up and was back to life, I wanted to be positive and deal with it. Heartbeat has helped me to get back to normal. I was always very active and enjoyed running and sports so they've enabled me to get fitter, there's also a social aspect to it and nutritional advice which are all very beneficial for people who've had heart troubles.
"When I first started coming, I was struck that there were a lot of people who had been at Heartbeat for a long time; ten years or more. They were a source of inspiration for me, particularly because there were men in their mid-70s who'd had quadruple heart bypasses who were really fit.
"It's not just a rehab for a short term. The confidence that people gain and their shared experiences help people to recover their lives and to be normal again."
If you'd like to support Heartbeat you can do so here.