Get nominating your heroes for heart accolade

The British Heart Foundation is encouraging locals to nominate the people they believe deserve a Heart Hero Award from the medical research charity in the New Year.

The charity’s Heart Hero Awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution of individuals and groups who are fighting for every heartbeat, such as heart patients, fundraisers, campaigners, scientists and health professionals.

Previous winner Rebecca Breslin has been the driving force behind the patient-led research into a rare heart condition, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). Following her heart attack caused by SCAD in 2012 she pushed for research to begin at the Leicester Cardiovascular Biomedical Research Unit.

She said: “It’s wonderful to be recognised but this is for all the SCAD survivors out there and the ambition to find answers, better treatments and hopefully a cure to this rare condition.”

There are four award categories – Inspiration Award, Young Hero Award, Heart Health Professional Award and Fighting Spirit Award.

Nominations should be made online at bhf.org.uk/heartheroes and for more information email [email protected].