Red is for your heart

It's National Wear Red Day, and there's no better time to think about why we're putting on our best red frock or why we ironed that red shirt. Heart disease affects so many people - walk down any street in the UK and you will find people affected by it.

Meet Niamh and Joseph Edmunds. They're doing a 5 mile sponsored walk for their Granddad, Bob Rigby, who died late last year of heart complications. He was 81. Dad Paul says:

"The Staff, nurses and surgeons were brilliant at Liverpool heart hospital where he had an 8 hour operation and then was taken down for another 3 hour operation.

"He was a big supporter of charities, especially the British Heart Foundation. He was a great Dad and Granddad and Father-in-law, he was kind, thoughtful and is missed very much."

They've raised a brilliant £350 so far and there's still more to collect!

Joseph, Niamh, Mum Liz and Dad Paul would like to say a very special thank you to all the staff, doctors and nurses at Southport and District hospital for all of their very hard work that they do. Also a very, very big thank you for the surgeons at Liverpool Heart hospital for their hard work in looking after a very special man and doing all that they could to help make him better.

We want to thank everyone out there who's wearing red, having bake sales, jumping rope, running marathons, riding bikes, and climbing hills, volunteering in our shops, sharing their experiences, and with what they know, comforting others.

Together we can beat heart disease.

• Tell us why you're going Red for Heart on Facebook
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Red alert

The city of Lincoln might be in for a treat (weather permitting!) for Wear Red Day tomorrow! The Red Arrows will be painting the skies red with one of their famous heart shape formations.

We haven't got a time yet (we'll try to announce it on Facebook), but the best place to see this amazing display will be in the city centre with a clear view north over the city into the skyline above the Cathedral.

Red 6 Flight Lieutenant Mike Ling says: “We are still in our training season at the moment, so we're still perfecting the Heart manoeuvre. However, we will feel especially proud to be practising it on Friday in recognition of National Heart Month and Wear Red Day, and the incredible work that the British Heart Foundation does in fighting heart disease.”

National Heart Month - just one week left!

We hope you're all as excited as we are to be part of National Heart Month. The BHF offices will be joining in with Wear Red Day on the 26th February, and we hope you are too! There's so many fun things you can do, and if you're low on inspiration have a look at all the great things everyone else is planning.

Amanda went red for her daughter, Victoria: "She underwent surgery for an unexpected heart condition at just 21 years old, and has since made a great recovery. We had a red party at home and asked people to interpret red however they wanted – the photo shows how inventive they were feeling! We had a great night and raised £750 for the BHF."

And if you, your colleagues or your friends need any more convincing, take a look at this lovely video and see what we're fighting for!

And if celebs are your thing, you'll be joining Kelly, Sharon and Ozzy if you wear red on Friday 26th February! There are so many exciting things going on, why not add yours to the mix?

Getting creative for National Heart Month!

We get so many people doing wonderfully creative things to help us raise money and fight heart disease! For instance, loads of brilliant local bands and solo artists are putting their heart and soul into making singles for us.

Here's just a sample of their talent...

Miccoli - Angels & Demons



Two of Miccoli's band members have personal experience with heart disease - they have a condition called Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.

Knock Twice - I Heart You



Formed by a local fundraiser, Knock Twice released this single for Valentine's day! Good luck to them in their fundraising efforts.

Every penny you raise to help us beat heart disease is appreciated. Thank you for all your hard work so far in National Heart Month, and don't forget to Wear Red on 26 February!

Make a note of Friday 26 February - it's National Wear Red Day!

February is National Heart Month and we’ve got a stack of exciting things coming up to celebrate it!

You can get involved too by doing something red at work, school or home.

Last year, Amanda and her friends got in the spirit and had a great time...

"We went red for my daughter Victoria, who underwent surgery for an unexpected heart condition at just 21 years old, and has since made a great recovery.

"We had a red party at home and asked people to interpret red however they wanted - the photo shows how inventive they were feeling. We had a great night and raised £750 for the BHF."

What will you do this year? Anything you like, as it happens!

Join National Wear Red Day on Friday 26 February. Bake red cakes. Paint your face red. Anything goes as long as it’s red.

Get your free fundraising kit at bhf.org.uk/red or call 0845 241 0976.

Are you ready to see Red?

Get set to go Red for Heart in 2010 - get everything you need in our
free fundraising packs (that's it on the right).

Plus, our new Red for Heart Facebook fan page is now open for business!

It's a great place to start meeting and talking with other fundraisers about what you'll be up to for National Wear Red Day on 26 February.

So what makes you go red?

We've just had a survey carried out of almost 2,000 adults across the UK - to find out the things most likely to make them go red.

It is of course National Heart Month, and we're trying to get you to go
Red for Heart

There's lots of ways you can do this in a deliberate manner. But what about those situations where you just can't help yourself blushing?

Well, straight in at number one, causing the most embarrassment with 59% of the vote, is waving back at someone who wasn’t actually waving at you in the first place.

At number two, with 29%, is expressing your love for someone, with men admitting to finding it much harder to voice their romantic feelings than women.

And a close runner-up at number three, with 28%, is someone commenting on your weight, which came out as a largely female hang-up.

Among other things that make us go red are farting, undressing or singing in front of a partner. A large number of people declared their stomachs the most embarrassing body part.

And overall, 56% of us recall turning red up to three times a week on average.

So there you have it, the nation's secret embarrassments revealed...

Let us know what makes you go red by posting a comment below!

Seeing Red This Morning

This week our RISK nurses were invited by ITV's This Morning to run a Heart Health Clinic outside London Television Studios.

The morning was a great success. BHF Nurse Peter Smith describes the day:

"We were thrilled when This Morning wanted to support the British Heart Foundation in our National Heart Month!

It was a cold but thankfully clear day (no snow!) and we saw over 30 people while the show was on air.

As part of our Red for Heart campaign we are asking people to wear red - Philip Scofield wore a red shirt and Christopher Biggins sported some bright red trousers and scarf! Brilliant to have their support.

We could not have asked for a better day - the show covered not only information on heart disease but also how to lead a healthier lifestyle - with Phil Vickery cooking up some tasty heart friendly food! It smelt delicious!"

Find out more about Red for Heart

Assess your health with our online calculators

Red all about it yet?

As you may or may not be aware, February is National Heart Month.

We're asking people to go Red for Heart this month, and the reasons why - and how you go about it - are pretty clearly spelled out in our special campaign video podcast, which you can watch below.



You can see what everyone else is up to either by checking out our Red for Heart page on Facebook or browsing our Red for Heart photo gallery on Flickr

Our Red for Heart website has more on how to order a fundraising pack, find and buy Red products online or in the High Street - or simply to make a donation to support our pioneering, life-saving research work.

Tell us and everyone else what you're planning to get up to - anything Red goes! - by posting a comment below...

My heart belongs to Corby

Our Love Notes prove ever popular as Health Minister Phil Hope stopped by a BHF shop to buy a Love Note and support National Heart Month.

The MP opted for a populist message, penning 'I love Corby' on a his heart shaped note.

For a £1 donation, you can write a message to friends, family, pets or anything your heart desires and display it in the window for all to see.

Our Love Notes scheme is one of many fundraising events happening across the UK during National Heart Month. Find out how you can support the BHF on our Red for Heart website.

And don't forget to tell us what you've been up to...

Nottingham Castle goes Red for Heart

Nottingham Castle was transformed after being drenched in red light as part of our Red for Heart campaign.

The famous castle is one of a series of UK landmarks being given a temporary make over to promote National Heart Month this February.

But you don't have to be an ancient monument to go red - Friday 13 February is our Wear Red to Work day.

Plus we've loads of other ways you can raise money to help us fight heart and circulatory disease, the UK's biggest killer. Go to our Red for Heart website for details.

Need some Valentine's inspiration?

We'd like to say a big thanks to Tiny Treasures, who are supporting us once again at Valentine's.

The firm has designed two special limited edition Red for Heart pendants (right) to support our Red for Heart campaign in February, which is National Heart Month.

The gift is truly a gesture from the heart, because half the profits from all sales of the pendants will be donated to our campaign. Better still, a further 10% will be donated to us if you order the pendant alongside other gifts.

To purchase your loved one a Tiny Treasures gift this Valentine's Day visit their website

Helen Taylor, from Tiny Treasures Gifts, said: “I'm continuing to support the Red for Heart campaign, because couples will be celebrating Valentine’s Day by buying gifts for each other.

"Instead of buying roses or champagne, they could create a memorable experience. It's a heartfelt way to remember the occasion which will also help other people.

"I hope the pendants will be a popular alternative this year, raise as much money as possible for the British Heart Foundation’s vital care work.”

Find out more about National Heart Month and other Red for Heart gifts

Happy New Year from the BHF Blog!

Once again it's time to make some New Year's Resolutions.

Fortunately our heart health team has made it easy for you by putting together some great top tips designed to put a spring in your step in 2009.

From quitting smoking to getting your 5 a day, there's lots you can do to improve your heart health.

Plus we've got lots of other ways you can feel great this year. How about help us save lives by raising money during National Heart Month in February? Order your fundraising pack

Or find out about our walks, cycles and other great events taking place near you over the coming year.

Happy 2009!