NEWS and EVENTS March 2009

CLICK HERE FOR THE NEWS ARCHIVES
CLICK HERE FOR DONATIONS LIST FOR THE PERIOD
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 -
Christmas Dance - Christmas Prize Draw - Diary Dates
Annual General Meeting - Morrish and Co - Glenys Hinchcliffe
Walsh School of Theatre Dance - Labour of Love
Order your Goodies Online - Letters - Leodis
Cardiac Nurse Helpline - Change address?
Collection Boxes - Diary Dates - Promotional Stall
Coffee Mornings

20th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

Treasurer's Trove

I saw an item on the news the other day which gives food for thought. It was about the use of cash in the future or to put it correctly the non use of cash. At the moment a lot of stores try not to accept cheques I don’t know if they have succeeded fully yet, but this news item stated that cash could become a thing of the past.

They want us to pay our way with an electronic card which we will swipe over a little receiver and that will be it – bill paid – and the money gone from your bank account.

When we get rid of cash ( I think this is for security reason – but what about if somebody pinches your card). Anyhow when we get rid of cash how will we rattle our boxes for the charity. What will I put into the bank each week.? I don`t think that these cards will work completely. When you have a bob or two in your pocket you feel as though you have something, but how will you feel with an electric card? At least you know when you`ve spent all your cash but how much will we spend on the card? Well that should give us something to think about.

A few thank you`s now. I would like to thank all those of you who donate on a monthly, quarterly or yearly basis. Your continued support for Take heart is very much appreciated. I would also like to thank all those of you who donated via the internet.

I have just finished completing the accounts and have taken them to the auditors. Although I have never had any problems with the accounts in the years past that I have been doing them, I always natter a bit until I get them back from the auditors confirmed as correct and they have been posted off to the Charity Commission.

A J McLean,
Treasurer

CHAIRMAN'S COMMENTS

Dear Friends

It is hard to believe that this year is the 20th Birthday of Take Heart. The first meeting to form the club was on the 25th of May 1989 and was called the Friends Club, who would believe what the Friends Club would achieve over the next 20 years.

I am proud to announce that over all these years the Take Heart Charity has provided support, comfort and care for patients, relatives and friends through raising funds in excess of Two Million Pounds.

Over the year I am sure you will hear a lot about celebrating this birthday enclosed is an event to be held at the Queens Hotel, full details inside. As you are aware the whole of the country is going through a difficult time and this is bound to affect all charities including ours, however every little helps either in support or donations however small, please do your best for your charity. Enabling it to continue to ensure patients, relatives and friends who are using or visiting the Yorkshire Heart Centre receive the best possible support.

Without a doubt the staff will as always give you their best, we are all fortunate to have this superb facility, as I have said many times in the past one of the best in the UK and Europe.

I am sure you the members will help to make this one of the best years ever, every penny counts.

Colin Pullan, MBE
Chairman
Take Heart

NB As a matter of interest, names for the club suggested were Two Hearts, Change of Heart, Light Hearted and Take Heart. A majority vote chose the name Take Heart on the 26th June 1989.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Our Annual General Meeting will be held on Monday June 8th 2009.

This sounds dreadfully boring, but it tends to be a fascinating evening with various speakers on different topics connected with Take Heart and the Cardiology news at LGI. If you are a member, please do make an effort to come along. Tea and biccies are served free.

Full details will be in the next newsletter.

The election of some of the trustees post will take place at this meeting.

If you are a member and consider consider that you can help by being a trustee, please offer yourself for election.

ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

This year nominations are required for the following posts, Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and a number of Trustees. Nominations and any other proposals which must be received before the 17th May 2009 must be made in writing to Mrs Pat Harrison, Secretary Take Heart, F Floor, Jubilee Building, The General Infirmary at Leeds, LS1 3EX

CHRISTMAS DANCE 2008

Once again a lovely evening was enjoyed by all it was only with some sadness that Pentagon the band that has played for us over the years has decided to retire.

As usual a raffle was run and raised £ 216-00 My thanks to Stewart Jenner our DJ who kindly donated two lovely hampers and also Ken and Heather page for providing most of the other prizes plus the spot prizes for the evenings dance

I would like to thank Pentagon, Stewart Jenner for their delightful music over the years Margaret and Clifford Briggs and Maureen and Arthur Robinson for taking care of selling the tickets for the raffle also Micheal and Olive Snowden for selling tickets for the event.

Following diminishing numbers attending the event also the heavy cost of putting the Dance on the Trustees have reluctantly decided to no longer hold the Christmas Dance.

Colin Pullan

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)

Keeping up the Good Work

George and I had the pleasure of visiting Glenys Hinchcliff recently. Glenys is our Member who sells the used postage stamps along with handicrafts and other items on ebay, with all the profits coming to Take Heart. Glenys has asked me to thank everyone who sends in the stamps and in particular those who have donated collections and albums.
You can visit Glenys` Shop on
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/chocolate-box-hobbies.

Please note that the stamps required are picture stamps and denominations- not the 1st and2nd class with the Queens head on. Our grateful thanks, once more, to Glenys for all her hard work and support. Well done!

Pat Harrison, Secretary

THE WALSH SCHOOL OF THEATRE DANCE

Once again I was pleased to go along to the class at Drighlington and receive a cheque to the sum of £500-00 and present a certificate of appreciation to a group of 3 to5 year old children who took part in a Dancing event to raise funds for the Take Heart Charity.

Over the years the school have raised thousands of pounds for our charity.

Collin Pullan, MBE

Photo shows; - Joanne Kirkland, Becky Marsden and the pupils of the Walsh School of Theatre Dance.

LEODIS

I was pleased to go along to the Leeds Branch of the Oddfellows and receive a cheque for the sum of £100 presented to me by the chairman, Mr Paul Hudson.

My thanks to all present for the very warm welcome and I was delighted to tell all the guests present a little about the work of Take Heart.

Colin Pullan, MBE

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 never have sight of credit card details here.

You can now even become a member of Take Heart online.

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

Bill Stevenson

A LABOUR OF LOVE

Mrs Margaret Whitaker recently spent some time under the care of Staff of the Yorkshire Heart Centre at Leeds General Infirmary.

Margaret and her Husband Brian could not thank the staff enough for the wonderful care she received and also wished to thank Take Heart Charity for helping to provide so much support at the Centre

Brian who builds Rocking Horses as part of his hobby has donated a Dapple Grey horse to raise funds for Take Heart. This horse took Brian some estimated 320 hours to build from scratch.

The horse is suitable for a 3 to 5 years old child or just as a family heirloom. It has a estimated value of £1250-£1500. The dimensions in “old money” are 4ft 10ins long, 2ft7ins high, (1473mm long .x 788mm high)

Take Heart is putting the horse up for offers over £500 and anyone interested can make an offer in writing to Take Heart. PO Box TR 38, Leeds LS12 6XB.

PLEASE MARK THE ENVELOPE “ROCKING HORSE”
CLOSING DATE MAY 31ST 2009

LETTERS

From Ward 16

Dear Take Heart

May we take this opportunity to thank Take Heart for all the equipment they have kindly provided for Ward 16.

The 22 bedside chairs are smart, comfortable and far superior to our original ones. The bariatric chair is fantastic and has already been used on so many occasions.

Our new office equipment has made our managerial life far smoother and more professional!. We have a new photocopier which has a great contribution and our new desks has ensured we try to keep our office tidy!
We would also like to thank you so very much for the very kind cheque we received for Christmas. We were all very much appreciative for your kind gesture.

We hope you have a happy New Year

Yours faithfully

Kath Hill and Camilla Smith

*

From Adult Congenital Cardiology, G Floor

Dear Colin

I am delighted that we have taken delivery of our new oxygen saturation monitors today.

These have now been installed in the cardiopulmonary exercise test lab and will be used for both cardiopulmonary exercise tests, standard exercise tolerance tests and outpatient assessment of exercise capacity in our congenital heart disease population.

We would obviously be delighted to display plaques on these pieces of equipment acknowledging your very generous contributions.

Once again many thanks and best wishes.

Yours sincerely

Dr Kate English
Consultant in Adult Congenital Cardiology

*

Dear Colin

Recently I had my annual appointment for my pacemaker check- Friday 13th 2009!

I arrived at the usual area at the Jubilee Wing. What a nice surprise, it had all been refurbished with the compliment of Take Heart.

The best was still to come, as I looked up from the back of the desk there was the most wonderful painting of Whitby I have ever seen. It took my breath away! It was very special to me, because it is our (my late husband`s and mine) favourite seaside resort.

There was yet more to come when I went through to the waiting area, there was the most spectacular fish tank. It was relaxing sitting looking at it, and everyone who came in made the same comment. I made a point of saying look at the plaque- compliments of “Take Heart”. It makes our sponsored walks worthwhile.

I had good results from my pacemaker. I came out of hospital feeling so much better and thinking,”Life is precious.”

Sarah Chocholko, Leeds

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 2009

Other Important Dates
Anniversary Tea Dance Saturday, May16th
Annual General Meeting Monday, June 8th
Annual Trip Sunday, June 14th
Sponsored Walk Sunday, September 6th
Tinsel & Turkey Friday/Sunday, November6th/8th
Christmas Draw Saturday, December 5th
Christmas Eve Ward Visits

IKEA Collections
Saturday & Sunday May 30th and 31st
Saturday & Sunday July 25th and 26th
Saturday & Sunday September 19th and 20th
Saturday & Sunday November 28th and 29th

Newsletter Closing Dates
March Monday, February 23rd
May Monday, May 4th
July Monday, July 13th
October Monday, September 28th
December Monday, November 16th

COFFEE MORNINGS

These are held in Leeds General Infirmary in
Jubilee Wing on F Floor adjacent to the Take Heart Office
from 10am - 12 noon

Everyone is welcome - please drop in for a coffee and a chat

Saturday May 23rd
Saturday August 15th
Saturday November 21st
Saturday February 20th 2010

Promotional Stall Dates

Every Friday in Jubilee Wing