Heart club wins award

2:30pm Thursday 21st August 2008

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A group which helps hundreds of people keep their hearts healthy has been recognised for its work and presented with an award.

The Bradford Heart Support Group, part of the British Heart Foundation, has been singled out by Bradford Council to receive a ‘b- active’ award in recognition of its effective cardiac help.

The group has more than 360 members, aged between 40 and 80, and helps them lead more active and healthy lifestyles. They attend sessions at Thornton Sports Centre and swim at Shipley Pool.

A number of the group have had heart surgery or suffer with a heart condition and are assisted by professional trainers who specialise in cardiac rehabilitation exercises.

Bradford Heart Support Group started in Thornton in 1992 after originally being set up at the NHS rehabilitation unit at Bradford Royal Infirmary. It helps by providing advice on the best exercises to take, such as swimming, and tips on leading healthier lives.

Two members of Bradford Heart Support Group – Kenneth and Mary Sutcliffe – have been members for more than 11 years. Kenneth, 77, had a quadruple heart by-pass operation in 2000, made a full recovery and now exercises twice a week. His 76-year-old wife Mary had a pacemaker fitted 13 years ago and enjoys running on a treadmill, cycling and resistance work. Both follow a healthy-eating plan.

The Council’s executive member for environment and culture, Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, said: “Heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK so the role Bradford Heart Support Group plays in helping people recover and overcome problems is vital.

“The group’s dedication to helping people overcome heart problems over such a long period of time has helped so many people in the district and they are a worthy winner of our ‘b-active’ award.

“Exercise and a good diet play a very important part in this.”

Pictured are, front, from left, Keith Barraclough, Pat Allot, Alan Sykes, Dorothy Jennings, Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth and Peter Illingworth, and, back, from left, Eric Jennings, Ken Sutcliffe, Bill Starkey, Peter Allot and Ernest Oldfield