BY HEART UK – THE CHOLESTEROL CHARITY
October is HEART UK’s National Cholesterol Month and we have made it our mission to raise awareness of the dangers of high cholesterol and to raise money so that we can continue to provide our life-saving work.
We want to make this National Cholesterol Month bigger and better than last year’s by reaching more people and telling them about the dangers of high cholesterol and of course by raising more funds. So do please get involved!
HEART UK is a cholesterol charity which provides support, guidance and education services to healthcare professionals and those with concerns about cholesterol. We strive for the majority of UK adults to understand their cholesterol levels and to take the necessary action to lead a healthy lifestyle.
We are delighted that Dame Judi Dench will be lending her support to our campaign, alongside TV and radio presenter, Gloria Hunniford.
Dame Judi said: “As President of HEART UK, I am delighted to be supporting National Cholesterol Month this October. Just think what a difference we can all make if we get involved and do something amazing to raise funds to help support HEART UK’s vital life-saving work.”
Over half of all UK adults have raised cholesterol and at least 1 in 500 people are born with a high cholesterol condition called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Those living with FH are at high risk of a heart attack, stroke or sudden death in their 20s, 30s and 40s.
Keeping active and eating a healthy diet are very important to keep a healthy level of low cholesterol but for people with FH this is still not enough and lifelong medication is usually necessary.
At HEART UK, we provide a cholesterol helpline for anyone looking for free, impartial and friendly advice. This can be anything from knowing your risk of heart disease to learning how to test your cholesterol level. Our helpline is open Monday-Friday: 10:00-15:00 (0345 450 5988).
As well as having a target of raising £50,000, this October we want to encourage people to get involved with our ‘Great Cholesterol Challenge’ – we want to get people moving more and eating better!
This could include participating in our ‘Climb for Heart Health’ or ‘Swim for Heart Health’ challenges that are designed to help improve the health of your heart.
We also have a range of fun ‘virtual challenges’ up for grabs where you can row the English Channel, or do a virtual cycle from London to Amsterdam! These are a great form of competitive fun where you can see who can cover the most miles or raise the most funds.
So throughout October, why not take the stairs rather than the escalator or lift and challenge yourself whilst competing against friends or colleagues to see who can cover the greater distance?
By going the extra mile and walking more each day, you could walk an extra 399 steps – the same distance as going from the bottom to the top of Big Ben!
Chief executive of HEART UK, Jules Payne, said: “With your generous support HEART UK continues its vital work, so please help us continue to make a difference and consider making a donation online https://heartuk.org.uk/donate .”
And don’t worry – If you’re unable to participate in fundraising, you could always contact your local GP or lipid clinic and host an awareness raising event.
For more information on how you can get involved, please visit: https://heartuk.org.uk/get-involved/national-cholesterol-month
2020health's Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.