Heart Foundation appeal to Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Heart Foundation appeal to Bradford

9:34am Thursday 2nd July 2009 in

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Since starting work as a fundraiser and volunteer manager for the British Heart Foundation four years ago, Sue Green has raised more than £1 million to help beat heart disease across West Yorkshire.

But as a Bradford girl born and bred nothing would give her more pleasure than seeing people get behind the Beating Hearts in Bradford Appeal and help buy a state-of-the-art 3D echocardiograph for Bradford Royal Infirmary.

Sue, 51, of Sandy Lane, said: “Over the last few years I have had a good relationship with BRI.

“I am a local girl and because there is a high incidence of heart disease in the local community I wanted to look at ways we could work together.”

The British Heart Foundation had already funded a 2D echocardiograph for St Luke’s Hospital a few years ago, but in the fast moving world of technology along came the 3D machine and the idea was born for Beating Hearts in Bradford.

It fitted the ethos of the charity perfectly and Sue now hopes the people of the district will get behind the appeal. “It is not just about raising money, it is about doing things to help other people raise money, such as volunteering,” she said.

“People are always generous with their time and money but we always need more.”

Sue has strong connections with BRI as her grandmother was a cook there in the 1930s and 40s and her grandfather was a porter and a gardener there.

Both of her grandmothers also suffered with heart disease and Sue remembers numerous trips to hospital to visit them in her teens.

“If they had had this kit they would have been diagnosed much quicker,” said Sue.

Her own mother, Barbara Butterworth, who is 80, and lives off King’s Road, in Bradford, also has heart problems.

“She went to the doctor a few years ago because she felt unwell and breathless and they found she had a leaking heart valve,” said Sue.

“She had a 2D scan and was diagnosed with a torn aorta. She goes annually for heart scans to check on it. Years ago we probably wouldn’t have known anything about it.

“When they move on to 3D scans they will be able to see a lot more – it is amazing.”

Sue herself has hypertension, which is monitored as it can cause heart problems, and her 21-year-old son Lewis Boyle, a student at Huddersfield University, has also undergone heart scans.

He had Kawasaki disease as a four-year-old, the most serious complication of which is heart problems as the virus can attack the heart muscles.

A basic scan all those years ago showed everything was fine but last year Lewis began complaining of a strange sensation in his chest when he exercised.

“At the back of my mind was a comment I’d heard that the heart problems could strike in later life,” said Sue, who persuaded Lewis to visit his GP, who in turn organised an ECG, chest X-ray and heart scan.

“The scan showed his heart was fine. Some irregular heartbeats are normal but we had a bit of a scare.

“But having that scan cleared any doubt from my mind.”

In a final rallying cry, Sue added: “If you can do something to help this campaign and benefit local people, then let’s do it. You never know when you might need it yourself.”

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