Heartlands go Red in more ways than one!

February is National Heart Month and staff at Heartlands Ford in Erdington have been going ‘Red’ in more ways than one over the last week – through taking part in a series of active challenges in order to raise awareness of heart and circulatory disease.

In a specially organised ‘healthy heart week’ at the Kingsbury Road dealership, employees worked up a sweat during a ‘sit up and push up’ contest, followed by a hula hoop competition in the showroom, where they competed against each other throughout the day to see who could keep the hoop spinning the longest.

During the week they also hosted a charity quiz and a game of bingo, as well as displaying posters and leaflets to inform staff and customers of the many ways they can stay active throughout their day to protect themselves against heart and circulatory disease - the UK’s biggest killer.

Viv Duffy, Heartlands Ford’s ‘healthy heart week’ organiser, said: ““We wanted to promote healthy living amongst our staff and customers in a fun and interactive way. Our health can impact on every aspect of our lives therefore it’s important for people to realise that keeping active can be easily fitted into their daily lives”.

She continued: “We have all enjoyed talking part in National Heart Month, which is organised by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and hope that we have gone some way to help raise awareness of the great work that they do across the UK”.

For more information about the BHF and National Heart Month, or to take part in a fundraising activity of your own, visit www.bhf.org.uk.

You can visit www.heartlands-ford.co.uk to find out more about the dealership which is based in Erdington, Perry Barr and Tamworth.

Heartlands Ford goes Red during National Heart Month

February is National Heart Month and local dealership Heartlands Ford is planning a special ‘Healthy Heart Week’ in support of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to promote the benefits of a healthy and active lifestyle.

The dealership will be raising money through the BHF’s ‘Red for Heart’ campaign where staff must donate money in return for wearing bright red clothing to work. They also have a series of fun and interactive activities planned over the course of a week, including a “sit up and push up” contest, a charity quiz, Valentine’s raffle, bingo and a hula hoop contest in the main showroom.

Dealership staff will also be displaying posters and leaflets throughout the showroom to encourage and inform staff and customers of the many ways they can stay active throughout their working day – protecting themselves against heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer.

Visitors to Heartlands Ford in Kingsbury Road, Erdington between the 12^th and 19^th of February can also donate money to the BHF through filling out the donation forms available on reception or dropping their spare change into the collection box.

Jackie Skeel, Head of National Campaigns at the British Heart Foundation, said: “The money raised by Heartlands Ford will go towards helping to save lives and fight the UK’s biggest killer. Everyone can get involved with ‘Red for Heart’ so please encourage your colleagues or friends to take part too and help the BHF make a real difference.”

Heartlands Ford’s general manager, Nigel Vollrath said: “Supporting the health and welfare of our staff is important to us, as is helping excellent causes such as the BHF so our Healthy Heart Week should be very worthwhile.”

The national ‘Wear Red Day’ for the rest of the UK is on Friday 26^th February and if you would like to find out how you can get involved or would like some inspiration on how to fundraise, please visit www.bhf.org.uk/red, call 0845 2410976 or email red@bhf.org.uk.

For more information on Heartlands Ford visit www.heartlandsford.co.uk.

Ends

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

Christmas came early in 2009 for more than 350 disadvantaged children across the world - thanks to the generosity and goodwill of local communities in Birmingham.

In the two months leading up to Christmas, individuals and groups dropped off present-filled shoeboxes to Heartlands Ford showrooms in Erdington, Perry Barr and Tamworth which once again opened up their doors as part of the annual ‘Operation Christmas Child’ appeal.

Heartlands Ford acted as a collection point for the appeal run by the Samaritan’s Purse; which brings joy and happiness to children in hospitals, orphanages, refugee camps, homeless shelters and impoverished neighbourhoods in some of the world’s poorest countries.

Nigel Vollrath, General Manager at Heartlands Ford said: “This was the fourth year that we have taken part in this appeal and we are delighted that we could help bring a little bit of extra happiness to so many children. It’s such a great cause and we would like to thank everyone who donated shoeboxes, in particular the Erdington Woman’s Guild and Grenfell and Saltley Baptist Churches”.

In 2008, the Samaritans Purse volunteers sent 1.2 million shoeboxes to children across Eastern Europe and Africa. Since the appeal began in 1990, more than 60 million boys and girls have received a present filled shoebox. 

All the staff had great fun getting involved themselves and agreed that the mountains of shoeboxes that were delivered, definately gave the showroom a fantastic 'Christmassy' feel!