Schools, businesses and community groups are asked to go red to raise money for defibrillators
TODAY marks the start of Calon Hearts’ Big Heart Appeal which kicks off by asking people to #GoRedForWales.
The Llandaff-based charity provides defibrillators and heart screenings across Wales and is encouraging people to wear red clothes, have red-themed bake sales or organise events this month in an effort to raise money.
To date, Calon Hearts has placed over 12,500 defibrillators in Welsh communities.
The learning centre Glan-y-nant, a short-stay centre for pupils with behavioural problems in Caerphilly, is the most recent place to receive a defibrillator from Calon Hearts.
February is National Heart Month, and with Valentine’s Day and the Six Nations on, Calon Hearts director Sharon Owen says it is a great time to get involved.
Ms Owen said: “People can get involved throughout the month in all sorts of ways. On Rugby game days we are suggesting fans wear red and make a donation.”
Cardiff schools are also taking part by asking pupils to wear red on Valentine’s Day.
Riverbank School in Ely is for children with severe learning difficulties and is one of the schools getting involved.
Deborah Herald, Headteacher of Riverbank, said: “On Valentine’s Day, the pupils will all come in wearing red, and we will have activities like a heart-themed tea party and making cards and gifts to take home for people they love.”
Riverbank School have supported Calon Hearts for a few years after a friend of the school lost her 25-year-old son Ben McDonald on the finishing line of Cardiff half marathon in 2018.
Ms Herald said: “We have supported the charity ever since then, to raise money to provide defibrillators across the community.
“We try to limit fundraisers because we know how hard times are for all our families. We choose charities that are important to us. Every child will join in and take home the things they make regardless of whether they can donate.
“Covid has hit our school harder than ever this term, so everybody is looking forward to celebrating those we love and raising money for a good cause that saves people’s lives through the screening programme.”
Ms Owen will be visiting the school on Monday, February 14, to give a talk and teach the children how to perform CPR.
Ms Owen said: “We hope people realise how vital it is to give locally. We are a small charity and we do not receive Government support, so every penny counts.”
“We rely on the good will of the public, and with campaigns like this we get to see what people are doing across Cardiff and Wales.”
- Share your fundraising efforts on social media with the hashtags #BigRedHeartAppeal and #GoRedForWales
- Donate to Calon Hearts here
