On Sunday 5th May, a group of staff from the Trust's Memory Services in Portadown, also known as Gregory’s Girls, are getting active by competing in the Belfast Marathon Team Relay or the 9 mile walk. The team are raising money for their friend Gregory who received a donor heart at Royal Papworth Hospital. Team relay competitors include - Jordanne Downey (Workplace Health Champion), Gemma McVeigh, Sheena McSherry, Mellissa Johnston and Sinead Toal. The 9 mile walkers will be - Catherine McCorry, Gregory Walsh, Cate Skelton, Roisin McCartney, Jonny, Jayne, Jane and Grainne.

Gregory’s Story
Gregory was a fit and active referee and father to two young children when he developed cardiomyopathy – thought to result from a virus which seemed like a bad cold. After 6 years of living with heart failure managed by the expertise of Craigavon Hospital and Royal Papworth Hospital , he needed a life- saving transplant. Gregory received the call we had all been hoping for; the call telling us that a suitable heart had become available. He had his surgery on New Year’s Day 2018. Fewer than half of the 250 people a year in need of heart transplants in UK find a viable donor in time.

That’s why we are raising money to help fund the hospital’s ground-breaking heart transplant programme which means surgeons can now use non beating donor hearts which was not previously possible. To date this has given 57 more patients a new chance of life.

Because of this initiative I have wanted to learn more about heart health and in my role as workplace health champion I have set up a health and wellbeing noice board for staff in Edenderry House themed on heart health. I have researched information and brought this together to show others how the heart works, how to keep your heart healthy, heart healthy snacks at around 100 cals and a recipe which is from the British Heart Foundation.