Robert Brown supports "Help a Heart" Month

3.40.38pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 11th Jun 2007

Glasgow Liberal Democrat MSP Robert Brown is marking the British Heart Foundation's Help a Heart campaign month by appealing to local people to back the national heart charity this June.

"Help a Heart" is the British Heart Foundation (BHF) national summer fundraising campaign which aims to raise vital funds to invest in pioneering heart research.

In the UK, nearly 600 people lose their lives to heart and circulatory disease every day. The BHF is aiming to raise £1.5 million this June to fund life saving research - matching or exceeding the success of last year's campaign..

Robert Brown said:

"Heart disease is one of the biggest causes of premature death and disablement in Scotland - more indeed than in any other part of the United Kingdom - but the valuable research and campaigning work of the British Heart Foundation is helping to cut mortality rates.

"The British Heart Foundation does tremendous work in campaigning to change lifestyles and in backing research to help cut heart disease and save lives.

"All over the country this month, sponsored bike rides and house to house collections are taking place to raise money for this very important charity.

"The BHF online shop also offers many products and services, where a percentage of your spend goes straight to the charity - George Forman grills, shower products and many other items are available online this June.

"Backing the British Heart Foundation summer campaign to help a heart will also help save lives."

Ends

Notes for Editors

www.robertbrown.org.uk

Get involved in the BHF help a heart campaign - website:

http://www.bhf.org.uk/hahc/get_involved.aspx