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Lack of Volunteers Risks Losing up to 200,000 Lives through Heart & Circulatory Disease

This June the British Heart Foundation urges the UK to put their Hand on their Heart to help save some of the 200,000 lives lost due to heart and circulatory disease.
Health, Lifestyle - 2 June 2010   Download IconContent available for download:  
Audio | Interview with Ben Ansell and Jessie Winyard| Login to Download

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This June the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is urging people to put their hand on their heart and volunteer in order to help save some of the 200,000 lives lost due to the nations’ biggest killer that is heart and circulatory disease.

The latest research reveals that only 26% of people took part in formal volunteering at least once a month in the last year, this despite the fact that over 60% of people say volunteering helps them feel less stressed and more than half state that it has improved their physical health and fitness.

The BHF would not be able to save lives through pioneering heart research or provide care for patients through their network of nurses and Heart HelpLine without the vital funds raised by dedicated volunteers. To put this into perspective, volunteering for half a day per week would provide £25 which can fund a scientist for an hour to better understand how to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure heart disease.

. Introduction:

This June the British Heart Foundation launches it’s ‘Hand on Heart’ campaign which highlights the importance and benefits of volunteering and urges the UK to get involved. Research revealed that volunteering can in fact reduce stress and improve physical health and fitness, however not enough of us are offering a helping hand. Volunteers play a vital role in the work of the nation’s heart charity which works towards saving some of the 200,000 lives lost due to the biggest killer that is heart and circulatory disease. To help understand what a person’s time is worth, simply volunteering for half a day per week can fund a scientist for an hour in which they work in research teams to better understand how to diagnose, prevent, treat and cure heart disease.

So how can people help save lives and get involved this June?

Joining us in the studio is BHF Fundraising Volunteer Manager Ben Ansell and Jessie Winyard a volunteer who has suffered a number of heart attacks and has undergone triple and double bypass surgery.

. Suggested Questions:

What did the research reveal about volunteering in our area and how do we compare to other areas of the UK?

How can people get involved and help save lives in our local area?

What are the benefits of volunteering?

What is a volunteers time worth?

What is the ‘Hand on Heart’ campaign and what does it aim to achieve?

Where can we find out more information?