Heart attack survivors boostcoffers for medical charity

The regulars at the cardiac phase IV class at the Arun Leisure Centre enabled 1,231 to be presented to the British Heart Foundation.

They held a range of sponsored events to bring in the money. Instructor Jo Evans also completed a sponsored swim.

The donation was handed over to representatives of the BHF's Bognor and Chichester branch at a meeting of the Tuesday class.

Instructor Jacqui Laker said a typical session featured exercises to boost the individuals' hearts as well as information about diets and generally looking after their cardiac systems.

'Jo has been running the classes for five years and some of our customers have been coming since the start,' she explained.

'They can come for as long as they want. The sessions can be very noisy and very boisterous but they say laughter is the best medicine.'

Phase IV rehabilitation is the first stage in which patients recuperate after a heart attack, stroke or operation to correct coronary heart disease outside hospitals.

The centre runs five classes a week for about 90-100 customers.

Jane Ramage, the BHF branch chairman, said the charity had used money raised locally to buy defibrillators for GP surgeries and public buildings, such as leisure centres. It had also paid for specialist cardiac nurses to work at St Richard's Hospital at Chichester.

'We raise 25,000 in a typical year,' she stated. 'Our principal fundraising event is the cycle ride at Goodwood motor racing circuit which raised more than 7,000 last year. This year's staging is on July 22 and we are just about to send out application forms.'