Clwyd West Assembly Member Darren Millar AM donated a bag of items and spent time at British Heart Foundation Cymru’s Colwyn Bay shop last week to find out more about the charity’s life-saving research.

Darren met staff and volunteers and learned how the local community support the heart charity. He also heard about the work that goes into generating vital donations, sorting and displaying stock and making sales which all helps fund cardiovascular research to help improve people’s lives in the future.

Last year, BHF Cymru’s 35 shops raised more than 7.4 million for research work into the prevention, diagnosis and support for people living with heart and circulatory disease.

Thanks to donations and sales in Colwyn Bay and across the country, the BHF is able to fund almost 5m worth of life saving research in Wales to support the fight against heart and circulatory diseases.

Darren said:

“I really enjoyed my visit to the BHF store in Colwyn Bay to find out more about the hard work of the staff and volunteers who work there.

“The research funded by the BHF is vital in further reducing the number of people affected by heart and circulatory diseases. This can only be done thanks to staff and volunteers who all deserve a huge thanks for their hard work to raise funds.”

“I’d encourage everyone to have a good look around at home and donate any unwanted items to their local BHF Cymru shop or give the gift of time by volunteering.”

There are around 375,000 people in Wales living with heart and circulatory disease, and each month 720 people in Wales will lose their lives to cardiovascular disease.

Emma Henwood, BHF Cymru’s Policy and Public Affairs Manager, said:

“Every donation made, every hour volunteered and every person who supports BHF makes a huge difference.

“We have a great shop here in Colwyn Bay with a wide choice of clothes and gifts, and we’re always looking for people to donate more items.”

To volunteer at a shop, make a donation or find out more about the BHF’s research, visit www.bhf.org.uk