Politicians Issue Heartfelt Advice

As Valentine's Day looms a group of politicians have joined forces in urging people to 'have a heart' by supporting the work of a major coronary care charity.

East Belfast DUP representatives, Robin Newton MLA, Lord Browne of Belmont MLA and Castlereagh Councillor Lawrence Walker have shown their support for the British Heart Foundation Red for Heart campaign which aims to raise awareness of heart and circulatory disease, which they said is Northern Ireland's biggest killer.

Robin Newton, shown here (on left) with Adam Newton, Cllr Lawrence Walker and Lord Browne of Belmont, said: "The work being carried out by British Heart Foundation to raise the awareness of heart and circulatory disease amongst the community is invaluable.

"There is a constant need to raise the issue of heart disease amongst our local community and the British Heart Foundation must be congratulated for this campaign. Wearing red to work on Friday and the donation of on £1 will help the British Heart Foundation to save lives through pioneering research, patient care, campaigning for change and by providing vital information to both patients and families."

Lord Browne said that each year more than one in three deaths that occur in the UK are from heart and circulatory disease, while Lawrence Walker added: "Taking regular exercise is recognised as a major preventive against heart disease.

"I would appeal to all to start gradual exercise, which will lead to a healthier life," he said.

See: www.bhf.org.uk/red

(BMcC/JM)