Colleagues across the Island were seeing red this February 24th, but all for a good cause, as Lloyds TSB took part in the British Heart Foundation’s annual “Red for Heart” charity event. The IOM branch joined thousands of others throughout the UK as part of a month-long nationwide initiative, which saw BHF fundraising events take place all February to help increase awareness of the importance of looking after our hearts.

Now in its fourth year, “Red for Heart” has helped raise millions for research, care, support and awareness through a variety of activities, including wearing red to work, ‘Come Dine Red with Me’, BHF red bingo and Red Jamborees. Despite numerous statistical successes and medical advances in the field, heart and circulatory diseases are still the UK’s biggest killers, claiming 1 in 3 lives every year and across a surprisingly wide-ranging demographic. 2.7 million people are currently living with the effects of coronary heart disease and 35 people under the age of 65 die every day, yet mortality rates have more than halved over the past 35 years.

The majority of this success can be attributed to increased public awareness gained, for example, through Government sponsored programmes and awareness campaigns and the British Heart Foundation can take great pride in the role it has played in this significant achievement. There remains, however, a great deal of work to be done. As the average age of the population increases and we witness ever-increasing social disparities, we now risk being under-prepared for a potential boost in diseases which would otherwise be easily avoidable through making small changes to our daily lifestyles and routines.

As such, this event for Lloyds TSB was not solely about raising money but also about increasing staff and general public awareness. The idea came from the IOM Wellbeing Team who wanted to promote healthy activities whilst raising funds and, of course, offer some attractive incentives. Colleagues were encouraged to engage in regular physical activity such as using the office stairs instead of the lift, walking and cycling to work, and a weekly yoga class is now on offer, all of which can help to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease. Colleagues were rewarded with fruit juice and fresh fruit as well as with a chance to contribute towards a worthy cause.

Employees from Lloyds Pharmacy were also on hand to carry out free blood pressure testing and to provide help and advice on how to lessen the potential risk of future illness. The sessions proved to be very popular and feedback from participants showed a very positive response. A total of £906 was raised, which will be increased through the bank’s Matched Giving Scheme. A portion of the proceeds will also be donated to Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation, an Island based charity which raises the funds necessary to enable heart screening for men and women between the ages of 14 and 35 here on the Island to pick-up heart defects that would otherwise go undetected. Their next local screening will take place this month.

Island Director, Peter Reid, commended his colleagues for their dedication to such a worthy cause, stating: “I am very pleased we have taken part in this month’s campaign to help raise awareness of this debilitating illness. We still have a long way to go and there is no easy cure for either its symptoms or causes, however, I am proud that we were able to help the BHF and Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation to continue their excellent work.”