Glasgow Airport’s Chaplaincy will be fighting for every heartbeat in 2017 as the team announces British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland as its charity of the year.
The chaplaincy team of Keith Banks, Jim McDonald and Stephen Baker will be supported by staff from across the Glasgow Airport campus in raising vital funds to help the nation’s heart charity continue funding life saving heart science and to support locals who are affected by heart disease.
Jim explained: “My own father died suddenly from a heart attack. Many of us know someone who’s been similarly affected by heart disease. Sadly, it’s an everyday reality for many folk.”
“When the chaplaincy team learned about the life saving heart research taking place here in Glasgow, and the support that locals get from BHF Scotland, we realised the airport should support this cause. It’s fantastic to know we’ll be helping to make life better for people who are living with heart disease, and to help them avoid it in future.”
Last year the airport’s chaplaincy raised nearly £5,500 for children’s charity The Teddy Bear Foundation and Jim and his colleagues are hopeful this sum can be matched, or exceeded, this year.
He added: ‘We are really grateful to everyone who’s donated and raised funds before and I know we can do it again and that the community here at Glasgow Airport will want to join me to fight for every heartbeat.”
James Cant, Director of BHF Scotland, said: “So much life saving heart science is being carried out here in Glasgow. The BHF is currently spending £18.5m on research into heart disease and stroke in the city, including at our Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Glasgow.
“We also provide information, advice and support to local people who are diagnosed with, or affected by, heart disease and stroke. We support heart nurses, fund public access defibrillators and help people to learn life saving CPR skills.
“All of this is only possible thanks to donations and fundraising and we’re excited to be working with Glasgow Airport’s Chaplaincy over the coming year to raise money and tell them more about our life saving work.”
Glasgow Airport has already formed a partnership with BHF Scotland by investing £3,800 in its Call Push Rescue CPR kits to train staff and airport partners in life saving CPR skills.