The charity’s Heart Hero Awards 2019 are open and people can nominate their heart hero.
The awards recognise the different ways people are helping beat heartbreak from heart and circulatory disease. This could be through fundraising, volunteering or helping patients and their families.
This year there are three categories: Healthcare Hero, Young Heart Hero and the Inspiration Award.
The Healthcare Hero award will recognise a doctor, nurse, or person working in a healthcare setting who has made a special effort to make a difference to the life of a heart patient or their family.
The Young Heart Hero award will go to an exceptional person under the age of 18 years who has done something amazing for the BHF and is a source of inspiration to others.
The Inspiration award will recognise a person who inspires others through their determination and dedication. Whether that is through their fundraising efforts, taking part in a physical challenge, organising an event, or volunteering activities.
Nominations are open until Friday 1 March. The winners will be announced at a very special gala awards dinner taking place in London on 20 September 2019.
Last year there were two very worth winners from Wales, Llew John from Efailwen and Liana Shirley from Anglesey.
Ten year old Llew John from Efailwen in Carmarthenshire won the Events Hero Award. Llew was born with a heart condition and underwent his first open-heart surgery when he was just nine days old. He has had two further open-heart surgeries, the last one in June 2017. Llew selflessly asked for donations to the BHF instead of gifts for his 10th birthday, and when his friends heard of this, they donated money too to Llew so it could be given to the BHF and raised almost £500. Llew plans to continue fundraising on his birthday this year.
Liana Shirley, a Physiologist from Anglesey won the Healthcare Hero Award in recognition of her role in a newly established integrated heart failure project in North Wales, funded by the BHF. Working for Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, Liana helps to train staff and deliver the service which manages complex heart failure patients in one of the most rural areas of North Wales.
Adam Fletcher, Head of BHF Cymru said: “Heart and circulatory diseases affect the lives of millions of people across the UK, often in devastating ways. Yet, there are so many ordinary people who, when confronted with that challenge, are doing extraordinary things.
“The BHF’s Heart Hero Awards recognise and celebrate the efforts of those who are working selflessly to make life better for other people.
“I was delighted that two amazing heart heroes from Wales won well deserved awards last year, and it would be great to see another Welsh winner in 2019.
“So if you know someone who is making a difference then please put them forward for an award so that their contribution can be recognised.”
