NEWS and EVENTS
December 2008

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS ARCHIVES

CLICK HERE FOR 2008 DATES

CLICK HERE FOR DONATIONS LIST FOR THE PERIOD

CLICK HERE FOR 2008 SPONSORED WALK PHOTOGRAPHS

CLICK HERE FOR THE CHRISTMAS DRAW 2008

The news page is quite large and you can scroll down to read it all - however, if you click on any of the blue underlined items below, it will take you directly to that story.

Treasurer's Trove - Chairman's Comments - John's Lodge
Christmas Cake - Christmas Prize Draw - Diary Dates
Sunnyside - Obituary - Morrish and Co - HSBC - Apologies
Order your Goodies Online - Letters - Christmas Cards
Cardiac Nurse Helpline - Collection Boxes - Change address?
Ikea - Tinsel and Turkey Weekend

Treasurer's Trove

It looks like we are now well into the credit crunch but you wouldn`t think so the way that the donations have been coming into the Take Heart coffers. In the last two weeks I have banked over £9,000 so our generous public doesn`t seem affected as yet. Of course I could well be proved wrong but I hope not. Let`s hope the country gets back on its feet quickly.

I have been thinking (could be harmful at my age) just how quickly the years go by and what have we done with our time. I feel quite proud when I think of all the projects over the years that Take Heart has been involved in to make the lot of patients and their relatives as comfortable as possible. I am not thinking of the nursing side as the care and attention they provide is second to none. No, what I am thinking about are things like the roof garden, relatives rooms, patientline TV, numerous items of equipment and information booklets etc. but then again we speak on a regular basis with the consultants and nursing staff about their requirements.

It has been a good first twenty years for the charity and we receive many letters thanking us for all the facilities Take Heart have provided.

Thank you all for your support over the year. I will close now but before I do I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

A J McLean,
Treasurer

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS

Dear Friends

As you are aware I have been out of action for a little while. However pleased to say all is going well and I am pleased to be back on doing work for Take Heart.
I would like to thank you for the many Get Well Messages you kindly sent me. As we come to the close of another year on behalf of myself and all the other Trustees I would like to thank you for the wonderful support you have given your Charity over the year.
The Charity has done so much over the year in improving the care and comforts of patients at the Yorkshire Heart Centre. May I take the opportunity of thanking all our Trustees and helpers for their dedication working to ensure that your Charity continues to serve the Yorkshire Heart Centre helping to keep it one of the finest here in the UK and Europe.
So many have had marvellous improvements in health due to the care they have received, some have not been so fortunate and our thoughts are with you and we hope for better times ahead, try to keep cheerful and in good spirits.
Our thoughts are also with the dedicated Staff many who will be working over Christmas and New Year.
You’re Trustees and I wish each and every-one of you a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.

Colin Pullan, MBE
Chairman
Take Heart

JOHNS LODGE 4779 BAILDON

I was pleased to meet members of St Johns Lodge No4779 Baildon at the Yorkshire Heart Centre and receive a Cheque from the Lodge to the sum of £2500-00. Donated to the Take Heart Charity for the purchase of an oxygen saturation monitor for the Cardiology Ward 18 at the Jubilee Building. Afterwards it was a pleasure to show the members of the Lodge some of the many facilities and equipment donated to units within The Yorkshire Heart Centre.
The Lodge decided to make the donation in appreciation of the care given to Kirsten Knowles

Colin Pullan MBE

Photo Shows L/R along with Staff from Ward 18

Duncan Knowles, CP, Kirsten Knowles, Richard Ormondroyd, and Alan Griffin

Morrish and Co, Solicitors

Morrish and Co Solicitors offer a free initial advice service to Take Heart members – Contact 0113 250 7792 (Tom Morrish – Yeadon) 0113 245 0733 ( Zoe Nicholson –Leeds) or 0113 257 0523 (Charles Clough –Pudsey)

HSBC PARK ROW LEEDS

Following a Race Night at the Sport Café, Park Row and arranged by Lucy Taylor, and Sarah Trigui and colleagues of HSBC and supported by Business Customers and work colleagues.
It was a very successful evening, raising the terrific sum of £1150-00 which was matched by HBSC making a total of £2300-00. I was pleased to say a big thank you and tell the guests about take Heart. The event was a thank you for the loving care given to Lucy Taylor’s father who was a patient at the Yorkshire Heart Centre and is now home making good progress

Colin Pullan
Photo shows L/R Sarah Trigui, CP, and Lucy Taylor

OUR GIANT PRIZE DRAW

The Prize Draw took place in Leeds General Infirmary on Saturday 6th December with a host of prizes won. The draw was performed by Eileen O'Grady, Staff Nurse on the Cardiology Ward 19 at LGI and she was ably assisted by Zaff Hussain who is on Reception at the Jubilee Building. An eagle eye was kept on the proceedings by Alex McLean, our Treasurer while Colin Pullan made sure everything was mixed up (the tickets that is...) To see if you have won, click here for a full list of prizewinning numbers.

ORDER TAKE HEART GOODIES ONLINE

I am delighted to inform you that we now have facilities to take orders for the Take Heart merchandise online. You may pay with your Visa, Mastercard or Debit Card. The system is secure and we do not hold details of cards here.

Have a look now - you can order the merchandise here. If you prefer the old fashioned way, you can still order them by Royal Mail from George Harrison 22 South View Rothwell LS26 0NT

Bill Stevenson

SUNNYSIDE NURSING HOME, CROSSGATES

Lucy and I were invited along to a party held at Sunnyside Nursing Home at Crossgates, where residents had taken part in a sponsored wheelchair push. The proceeds were divided between three charities and were presented with a cheque to Take Heart for £200-00. Many thanks to the owners, staff and residents for a very enjoyable afternoon, which after a superb buffet ended with a good old fashioned sing song.

Bernie and Lucy

Photo shows Lucy and Bernie together with one of the contestants

IKEA.

We have been fortunate this year to have been able to have four weekend collections at IKEA. We did our fourth weekend on the weekend of 15th and 16th November and collected the sums of £250.57 on Saturday and £215.81 on Sunday. Thanks to all who gave up their time to collect on our behalf.

Tinsel and Turkey Weekend November 8th and 9th at Llandudno

The weekend proved so popular that two coaches were needed to pick up 93 members from various spots so by the time everyone was on board, present and correct Maureen Robinson our organiser breathed a sigh of relief and settled down to enjoy the ride to Llandudno.

A pleasant journey with a stop at Llangollen, enough time to eat and stretch our legs, then onwards to reach our destination just as it was getting dark. Our hotel, the Chatsworth on the sea front, looked very welcoming with Christmas lights twinkling in the windows.

After an enjoyable evening meal everyone retired to the lounge with a pleasant evening following, listening or dancing to the resident singer and his music.

Saturday was spent with some opting to go to Caernarfon Castle and then to Betws-y-Coed and some opted to stay in Llandudno. Luckily the day stayed fine for both choices.

Christmas dinner with all the trimmings was served in the evening, with a visit from Santa Claus (the Manager of the hotel) pulling his sleigh which was the coffee trolley full of presents. He announced sadly that due to the “ credit crunch” there weren’t enough gifts to go round but those who were lucky enough to hold a winning ticket won a very nice prize. Another evening of entertainment and plenty of opportunities to dance.

We woke to a very blustery Sunday morning. Everyone wrapped up warmly to go to the 90th anniversary of the Remembrance Service. As eleven o'clock approached the rain came down very heavily as everyone stood to pay their respects. The rain continued for the rest of our time in Llandudno. Despite the damp finish, I am sure that everyone had a good time.

A big thank you to Maureen and Arthur for all the hard work put in to make it a successful weekend and for the fun Christmas raffle that was organised where everyone won a gift and which raised £95.00 for the Take Heart funds.

Edith McLean

APOLOGY

In the last newsletter in the article Par 3 Club, Wike Ridge Golf Club, the Trophy should have read TICKER TROPHY which was won by Mr Malcolm Butters.
Congratulations to Mrs Arlene Chambers on being appointed as Lady Captain and who has chosen Take Heart as her nominated charity during her year in office

CHRISTMAS CAKE

Allison Holroyd was kind enough to donate a lovely Christmas Cake which she had baked and iced, to be auctioned at the coffee morning. The auction raised £36 for the Take Heart coffers, so a big thankyou to Allison

Photo shows Allison with husband Dennis and son David who are regular visitors to our promotional stall and coffee mornings.

LETTERS

For the attention of Colin Pullan MBE 28/10/2008

On behalf of my family, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you and the entire Take Heart team for the excellent work, accommodation, and support that has been provided during these extremely stressful times. My brother (William) has in the last day had a very successful heart operation and is now the proud owner of a new valve, although I think he is currently more preoccupied with self-administering the morphine to numb the pain!

The sciences involved with modern cardiac medicines are truly amazing and I understand that my brother will be up and out of the hospital by the end of this week, which is fantastic and unbelievable. The surgeons, nurses and the supporting staff on Floor F and at the ICU need commending highly for their expertise and their professional manner

I have recently been accepted for the 2009 London Marathon and it would be my pleasure to run on behalf of Take Heart in this regard, could you please let me have further details and any sponsorship forms that you have so that I can start raising money for this fantastic cause. I must mention that I will also be running on behalf of the local first response team, who were fantastic in reviving my brother to give him this second chance, Therefore I will be splitting any sponsorship 50/50 between Take Heart and the local first response.

Thank you again for the excellent work that is provided by the Take Heart team and I look forward to pounding the streets for such a good cause over the next few months

Kind Regards
Ben Sedgewick

LETTER FROM CORFU GREECE

October 2008

Dear Sir,
Pleased find enclose my Cheque to mark the eight anniversary of my triple bypass.
Perhaps your readers will be interested in Health Care, Greek Style. I took my English prescription to the Health Centre(5 miles away) to be rewritten in Greek, cost 3 Euros, down the road to the chemist, “Oh we have a problem, you want 40 Diovan, we only do 80”,you must see a cardiologist. Fortunately, we have a friend who knows one, and she made a phone call. Result a next day appoint, in Corfu Town, 45 minutes drive away.

A full physical, and an ECG, confirmed that”80” will be OK, Cost 50 Euros at that time
£35-00. I keep the print out and he gave me a paper for a cholesterol test, at my convenience. There is a Walk in Centre in the same village as the Health Centre, at that time free, results next day, comprising a five page print out. Still the same service, but 50 Euros, or drive to the next village and get it free.
The doctor visits the village every Thursday, mainly for repeat prescriptions and minor ailments, more serious go to either the Health \centre or Corfu General.
One doctor does not help the blood pressure; she is young, attractive and wears tight black Ski pants and calf length boots!!!!
We pay a percentage of the cost of prescriptions, in my case 10% because I have had a bypass. All items can be bought without prescription, but at full price

Pagii claim to fame is that it featured in the Bond film”For You Eyes Only”.

Finally may I pass on my best wishes to my many friends at Airedale Support Group

Yours Sincerely

A Harrison

Editors Note
We don’t propose to run any competition on young Doctors in the UK or Overseas !!

CARDIAC NURSE
SPECIALIST HELPLINE
Available on Leeds
0113 392 5645(Medical)
0113 302 5646(Surgical)
0113 392 5647(Surgical)

COLLECTION BOXES

If you require a collection box, or your collection box needs empting. Contact Jack Calvert on 01274 882 034
Or the Take Heart Office on 0113 392 2888

CHANGE OF ADDRESS

Please be sure to let us have full details if you move house so that we can keep our data base up to date for posting out newsletters etc

DIARY DATES 2008

Christmas Dance
December 12th 2008-11-21
Pudsey Civic Centre Tickets £3-50
8-00pm to 12-00 Midnight. Doors open 7-15pm. Bar 7-30pm to 11-00pm
Light Refreshments
Dancing to Pentagon Band and DJ Stewart Jenner
Tickets available from Michael Sowden, 50 Carr Hill Avenue, Calverley, Leeds LS28 5QG Tel. o113 255 0606

COFFEE MORNINGS

February 21st 2009

These all start at 10-00am to 12-00 noon in the Seminar Room on F Floor, Jubilee Wing LGI. There is usually a short General Meeting after the Coffee Morning. So come along have a chat and a cup of coffee.

TAKE HEART CHRISTMAS CARDS

Thank you, once again, to everyone who supported Take Heart by purchasing Christmas Cards
This year for the first time in several years I have been disappointed with the service from the suppliers. Delivery was later than usual and a print fault was found on some of the cards. I would like to apologise to anyone who has been caused any inconvenience and if you would like to ring me on 0113 2822954 I will endeavour to put the matter right.
For next year I have sourced another supplier and hope to give you a wider selection, so please watch out for details in the Newsletter and continue to give your support which is very much appreciated

George Harrison Promotional Merchandise Manager

Promotional Stall Dates

Only two dates available this year:-

12th December 2008 and 18th December 2008.

Promotional Stalls for 2009 will now be on every Friday in the Reception Area Jubilee Wing at Leeds General Infirmary