Our areas of work
Donations to tribute pages will fund research into heart and circulatory diseases and their risk factors.
Andrew
Diabetes increases your risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases. Andrew required an amputation to his left leg at age 19, due to having cancer in the knee. So, when he was recently diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, Andrew wanted to do everything in his power to prevent another amputation. His determination has driven him to make healthy lifestyle changes which have led to losing 2 stone in weight and no longer requiring medication.
The BHF are looking at ways to prevent people living with diabetes such as Andrew, to decrease the risk of developing heart and circulatory diseases.
Dianne
Dianne was diagnosed with vascular dementia in her forties, after realising her memory wasn’t working as well as it should be. However, Dianne didn’t let that stop her and used it to start up a weekly memory project in her local church.
Vascular dementia is the second most common type of dementia, affecting 150,000 people in the UK. We want to better understand this condition and use funding to help prevent, treat and eventually cure it.
Leo
Just 24 hours after Leo was born, new parents Aimee and Alex received the news that their baby had several heart defects. He was rushed to intensive care and had open heart surgery at just one week old. After 7 long hours, the surgeon gave the news that all had gone well. ‘‘We couldn’t stop crying for hours’’ says Aimee.
In the UK, 12 babies are diagnosed with congenital heart disease every day. Our research aims to find ways to better diagnose and treat this. Thanks to your support, we are helping the families that need us, and getting one step closer to beating heartbreak forever.
Anna
At just 24, Anna had a life-changing stroke. Her mobility was seriously affected, and with a one-month old son to look after, Anna faced both physical and mental challenges. After being bedbound for 2 years with severe anxiety, she eventually gained confidence and has since taken on activities including abseiling and fire eating!
Every day, over 600 people go to hospital in the UK due to a stroke, and the most recent mortality data gives 36,000 deaths every year from a stroke. But thanks to your support, we are fighting to change these numbers and find new treatments that will help those like Anna.