Issue 288 – Ben wins ‘Heart Hero’ award from national charity

Local man Ben Derrick has been awarded a ‘Heart Hero Award’ by the British Heart Foundation, the nation’s heart charity and chosen UK charity partner for the national home improvement retailer.
 
Special recognition has been given to Ben for his continued support and outstanding contribution during the ‘Keeping Hearts Beating’ two-year partnership. By motivating colleagues and organising fundraising activities, Ben has helped the Frome Homebase store, where he works, to raise over £3,600 for the British Heart Foundation.  
Ben said, “I am delighted to have won this award but I couldn’t have done it without the help and support of our customers and store colleagues. Heart disease is still the UK’s single biggest killer and touches most of us at some time in our lives and so we recognise the importance of doing our bit to help the BHF support and care for all those affected.”
The award was part of a two-year ‘Keeping Hearts Beating’ campaign with the BHF which will see fundraising events and activities across all of Homebase’s 300-plus stores in the UK.  The money raised by staff and customers will be vital in helping the BHF place defibrillators in communities across the UK where they are needed most.
A defibrillator can restart the heart by delivering a controlled electric shock through the chest wall.  A recent study with GPs showed that if a shock is delivered within 2-3 minutes, the chances of survival increase by 60%.  For every minute that passes, chances of survival decrease by 14%.¹
Upon hearing of this award, Aneesha Moreiraa, director of fundraising at the BHF said, “We are extremely grateful to Ben, store colleagues and customers at Homebase, Frome, for all their support and fundraising efforts. The money raised will help us in our fight against heart disease, which remains the UK’s single biggest killer.”