Be a heart hero on Thursday May 5 and Friday May 6 by joining the Irish Heart Foundation in Mayo for this year’s Happy Heart Appeal sponsored by Abbott and volunteer a few hours of your time to sell Happy Heart pins on-street and raise much-needed funds.
Every day in Ireland 27 people are losing their lives to heart disease and stroke and some 300 new cases are diagnosed daily - yet 80 per cent of these deaths are completely preventable. “Prevention is crucial to stop this disease in its tracks and save lives,” is the message from Irish Heart Foundation medical director and cardiologist Dr Angie Brown ahead of this year’s Happy Heart Appeal.
Dr Brown continued: “It is well known by medical professionals that heart disease and stroke remains the number one killer in Ireland - despite a significant reduction in morbidity and mortality in the last 35 years. The harsh reality is that every hour someone in Ireland suffers from a stroke, and every day hundreds of Irish people - people we all know - are diagnosed with heart disease. Too often the lives of the people we love are cut tragically short or many are left disabled. It shouldn’t be this way.
“The good news is that 80 per cent of this disease is preventable – and the Irish Heart Foundation is here to help. We need increased awareness of heart disease and stroke prevention and symptoms. We’re here to ensure people affected by this disease get access to support they need, when they need it.”
Every €3 donation the Irish Heart Foundation receives as a result of big-hearted volunteers in Mayo selling the iconic Happy Heart pins on May 5 and 6, will drive prevention so that Irish families in every community in Ireland can live longer and healthier lives. To register your interest as a volunteer for the Happy Heart Appeal on May 5 and 6, call Anne Harrington at the Irish Heart Foundation on (01 ) 6685001 or email [email protected].
