The Irish Heart Foundation would like to share some events and activities with you that will be coming up over the next few months.

The Irish Heart Foundation, along with its heart and stroke Patient Champions, is inviting politicians from all over Ireland to attend a cardiovascular presentation in Leinster House on the 9th of April. The aim is for them to learn more about the real-life implications of heart and stroke conditions on these communities and how they, the politicians, may be able to assist in improving the situation for many of their local heart and stroke patient constituents.  

If you would like to ask your local politician to attend this meeting on your behalf, please contact poshea@irishheart.ie for further information. 

From early April, our door to door (D2D) fundraisers will be on the road and on selected sites again, braving the elements, spreading the message about the importance of the Irish Heart Foundation, inspiring people and at the same time, acquiring new monthly donors, which we need so much.  

This Easter why not try to incorporate as many seasonal fruits and vegetables as possible into the dishes you make? You could add these to some of your favourite dishes or try something completely new. 

Easter can be a time of cooking healthy family meals or enjoying a chocolate treat.  Healthy eating is about balance.  

We have put together some of our top Easter recipes inspired by the fruits and vegetables which are in season at this time of year. These recipes are also ‘dietitian-approved’ and align with healthy eating advice which we recommend for a healthy heart. Remember to include at least 5-7 servings of fruit and vegetables every day as part of a healthy diet. The more the better. Ideally, half of your plate should be made up of fruit, vegetables or salad. Fresh, frozen, dried or tinned fruit all count towards your daily servings. 

Make conscious, healthy choices this Easter. Remember to nourish your body and look after your health by choosing foods which are in keeping with healthy eating recommendations. You can find more information about these recommendations on our website.  

This May, the Irish Heart Foundation will run a national campaign to raise awareness about the link between high blood pressure and heart disease and stroke. The campaign, titled ‘Before Damage is Done,’ aims to educate the public on the silent dangers of high blood pressure and encourage proactive health checks.   

High blood pressure is often symptomless, silently damaging your heart and other organs. Sadly, many people only discover they have high blood pressure after experiencing a heart attack or stroke. The campaign’s key message emphasises the importance of getting your blood pressure checked before damage is done. Individuals over 50 who are undiagnosed with high blood pressure are particularly encouraged to visit their local pharmacy or GP for a blood pressure check.  

The Irish Heart Foundation is delighted to have the support of Fleming Medical and the Irish Pharmacy Union in amplifying the campaign’s message and reaching a broader audience. The campaign will feature various elements, including print materials such as a poster, leaflet and flyer, as well as digital resources and explanatory videos. 

High blood pressure affects two out of three over-50s, but half of people don’t know it. Research shows that Ireland has one of the lowest rates of awareness, treatment, and control of high blood pressure among high-income countries. Additionally, while many people know that high blood pressure is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, there is a lack of awareness about other serious outcomes such as dementia, kidney disease, and some forms of blindness. 

Mark your calendars this May and join us in spreading awareness to prevent the silent damage caused by high blood pressure, Before Damage is Done. 

For more information, visit irishheart.ie. 

Heart Failure Awareness Week 2025 is approaching, running from the 5th to 11th of May. To mark this important week, under the theme ‘Heart Failure Doesn’t Stop Us’ we are hosting a special lunchtime online talk designed for our members. This event will take place online on Thursday, 8th of May at 12:30 PM. 

We are thrilled to welcome guest speaker Sinead Mulhern, a Principal Clinical Psychologist at the Mater Hospital. Sinead will share her expertise on one of the often-overlooked consequences of heart failure: its impact on psychological health. Through her insights, she will shed light on the emotional and mental health challenges faced by those living with heart failure, helping to raise awareness about the invisible struggles many individuals encounter. 

In addition to Sinead’s talk, we are privileged to have one of our members share their personal journey of living with heart failure. This heartfelt account will provide a unique perspective on the daily realities and emotional experiences that come with managing the condition. 

This session aims to foster understanding, raise awareness, and offer support to those impacted by heart failure, both physically and psychologically. We invite all members to join us for this informative and meaningful conversation. Please keep an eye on the website for the event link. 

Introducing  Bizzy’s Video Challenge / Dúshlán Físe ó Bizzy – a two-week challenge for daily movement breaks in the classroom. Inspired by #ActiveBreaksChallenge24, videos are available for free online for all primary schools. Invite your class to do a movement break a day with Bizzy.  

This challenge will be ideal for Active School Week #ASW25 which takes place on 6th-9th of May.

Are you a golfer or do you know one? The Irish Heart Foundation is delighted to announce details of this year’s Irish Heart Foundation Golf Classic, set to take place on Thursday, 29th of May at the breath-taking Monkstown Golf Club, voted Munster’s Parkland Course of the Year in 2023. 

After a few years’ break, the classic was re-introduced last year to great success. We are thrilled to continue this tradition, once again kindly sponsored by Credendo, and we are very grateful for their support. 

Event Details: 

• Date: Thursday, 29th of May 

• Time: Tee times available from 9am to 4:50pm 

• Location: Monkstown Golf Club 

• Registration: Teams of four available for €600. (Registration here or call Anne on 086 8520199) 

Participants will enjoy a day packed with great golf and wonderful food from the renowned in-house restaurant overlooking the 18th, Green as well as: Fabulous prizes: Exciting prizes for top teams and individual players. 

• Special contests: Longest drive, closest to the pin, and hole-in-one challenge. 

• Awards ceremony: Celebrating the winners and recognizing our generous sponsors. 

• Dinner and entertainment: A post-tournament dinner with live entertainment. 

This is a great opportunity to show support for the work of the Irish Heart Foundation who play a crucial role in Ireland by working to prevent heart disease and stroke, supporting those affected, and advocating for healthier lifestyles to improve the nation’s overall heart health. 

Sponsorship opportunities: We offer various sponsorship levels, including opportunities for tees and greens. For more information on sponsorship packages, please contact Anne on 086 8520199. 

See here for more information 

Following on from the incredible success of Run 100, the next challenge in our calendar is definitely our most adorable!   

One for the dog lovers, we are challenging participants to “Walk 100km with your Dog” during the month of June.  

Participants receive a doggy bandana when they sign up and a medal when they complete the challenge. 

Last year, we had over 1,500 people (and their pooches) take part in the challenge, and they helped raise over €115,000. 

Registration opens in May but if you would like more information, get in touch with Jamie at jconway@irishheart.ie 

The Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon will take place on Sunday, 1st of June and we are calling on you and all the mums, sisters, aunties, and ladies around Ireland to join team Irish Heart. 

This 10km road race is the largest women’s event of its kind in the world.  

In 1983, 9,000 women took part in the inaugural Women’s Mini Marathon. The event reached a record attendance in 2014 with 41,006 women taking part. A staggering 1.1 million women have entered the event over its 43 years. 

Registration is now open. If you would like to join our team, just email Muireann at hello@irishheart.ie to join the team today! 

We recently published our latest patient information resource ‘Step by step through cardiomyopathy: A helpful guide for people diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, their families and loved ones’. 

The resource offers an overview of cardiomyopathy as a health condition, providing information about the types of cardiomyopathy, the common symptoms, diagnosis and treatment. 

The booklet also provides helpful guidance on how to navigate the genetic implications of the condition while also detailing the physical and emotional effects of cardiomyopathy. 

Finally, the booklet provides useful tips on living well with cardiomyopathy as well as signposting to useful resources and services. 

The booklet was co-developed with a panel of cardiomyopathy patients as well as a team of medical experts. 

The resource is available in print and online here.