Scotland's young Braveheart returns to fight heart disease

Andrew Weir, the actor who played Young Hamish in Mel Gibson’s Braveheart at the age of 13, has raised over £1,100 for British Heart Foundation Scotland in memory of his dad.

Andrew, originally from Ayr, left Scotland for New York in 2005 and now lives in San Francisco, California. He is currently appearing as Robert Burns in a promotion for Homecoming 2009 on the website scotland.org

He organised the charity golf event at Belleisle municipal golf course in Ayr in memory of his father David, who died suddenly of a heart attack in August 1999, aged just 49. By tragic coincidence Andrew’s grandfather was 48 when he died - also of a heart attack.

Andrew says: ”My father was incredibly sociable and popular and when he died, his friends gathered enough money to erect a bench in his memory at the first tee at Belleisle golf course so it is a very special place for the whole family. We had so much interest from people who knew my dad that we didn’t really need to promote the event.”

The tournament was organised by Andrew and close family friend, Charlie McGill. It was a great success with over 60 golfers taking part and the event continued into the evening with a fundraiser at The Chase in Ayr. Raffle prizes were donated by William Grant & Sons and John Higgins donated a signed snooker cue.

Andrew added: ”John Murtagh, the actor from Braveheart, Rob Roy and River City, introduced the raffle. John and I worked together for many years in the entertainment business. He recently suffered a heart attack while working in Glasgow and so was keen to come along and promote the vital work of BHF Scotland.”

Glasgow subway a safer place thanks to us

Glasgow’s subway network will be a safer place thanks to an appeal from the British Heart Foundation Scotland.

The Subway operator Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is supporting the Saving Lives in Glasgow Appeal, which aims to raise £100,000 to provide one hundred life-saving defibrillators in key locations across the city.

Used to restart a person's heart when they suffer cardiac arrest, seven of these defibrillators will be placed in six key subway stations and Buchanan bus station - and initially 25 staff will be trained to use them

To support the Appeal visit bhf.org.uk/glasgowappeal or contact Carole Nicol on 0141 954 8542 or by email at nicolc@bhf.org.uk

Pictures tell story of bids to beat heart disease

Our 2009 events season is now well and truly upon us, and already thousands of people have helped raise vital funds to help us beat heart disease together.

We've just posted some new photo galleries of recent events including the Calke Abbey Walk, Hadrian's Wall Hike and the White Peak Challenge Bike Ride (pictured right).

Check them out, together with inspiring photos from lots of other British Heart Foundation events and campaigns, on our online galleries at Flickr

If you want to help beat heart disease together, find out what events we've got coming up by checking out our special events website.

Mogwai Martin's pacemaker pain

Our best wishes go out to Martin McCulloch (pictured right), the drummer with Scottish rock favourites Mogwai.

Martin, who is well known to the BHF after auctioning two of his old pacemakers to raise money for us, has been forced to leave the band's US tour early after having problems with his new one.

Mogwai have been forced to cut the tour short as Martin flies back from New York, where the band had been performing, to his home in Scotland to see his cardiologist and have an immediate check-up.

The auctions of his previous pacemakers to the band's fans via eBay have raised hundreds of pounds to help our lifesaving work.

On Mogwai's website, Martin says: "I was taken into hospital last night almost immediately after the show. I've been having some problems with my pacemaker for the duration of the tour and it unfortunately culminated in me being sent to the emergency room.

"The doctors there initially thought i would have to have corrective surgery at a larger hospital nearer New York City, but i have been given the all clear to travel home on the understanding that i go straight to my cardiologist on arrival back in Scotland.

"To be honest, i'm really bummed about having to go home and feel for the folk who had bought tickets for our upcoming shows.

"But i can honestly say it would be almost impossible for me to carry on at this point as my pacemaker has broken skin and the surrounding area has become infected."

Good luck Martin, and we hope you get better soon!