The Rock of Cashel and Dublin’s City Hall will light up red to mark World Heart Day 2019 on Sunday 29th September.

This Sunday 29th September is World Heart Day and Ireland’s historic Rock of Cashel in Cashel Co Tipperary and Dublin’s City Hall will light up red to mark the occasion.

Founded in 2000, World Heart Day takes place on the 29th of September every year and it is the World Heart Federation‘s (WHF) and the world’s biggest platform for raising awareness about cardiovascular disease, including heart disease and stroke.

Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office revealed that cardiovascular disease was responsible for 8,938 or 28.7 per cent of all deaths in Ireland 2018.

Of the 8,938 lives lost to heart disease and stroke in Ireland last year, 4,140 were due to ischaemic heart disease and 1,680 to cerebrovascular disease or stroke. Of the 4,140 lives lost to ischaemic heart disease the cause of death in 1,740 people was “acute myocardial infarction” also known as a heart attack.

The World Heart Federation has chosen ‘My Heart Your Heart,’ as the theme for World Heart Day 2019 which is all about making a simple promise for your heart.

“My Heart, Your Heart’ is about bringing people together and creating a sense of commitment around the common issues related to heart health. It is a concept that allows us to educate, inspire and motivate people to look after their hearts. It is personal, simple and encompassing. It’s about saying to ourselves, the people we care for and individuals all around the world, “What can I do right now to look after my heart… and your heart?”

“On World Heart Day, we will ask people to BE A HEART HERO by making a simple promise to someone they love or care about. A promise to eat more healthily, to be more active, to say no to smoking. Our aim is to educate, inspire and motivate people to keep their hearts healthy, while encouraging them to act as influencers themselves,” the WHF added.

To celebrate World Heart Day 2019 the Irish Heart Foundation has organised a Heart Hero 5K in association with parkrun Ireland on Saturday, September 28th, 2019.

For your chance to become a heart hero and support the vital work of the Irish Heart Foundation simply join in our Heart Hero 5K campaign with a donation of €20. The Irish Heart Foundation will send you your t-shirt to wear during the Heart Hero 5K, as well as training plans and details on finding your nearest parkrun location.

This donation does not relate to you participating at parkrun which is free to everyone.

For more information please see here