Balloons, and heart health hopes, rise

IN GOOD HEART: Tony Duncan and Heart Foundation committee chairwoman Kirsten Westwood look on as Stuart Nash cuts the ribbon. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

The opening of the new Hawke's Bay branch office of the New Zealand Heart Foundation in Napier on Wednesday was appropriate.

Like a group of red blood cells, a dozen red balloons were set free by Napier MP Stuart Nash, who was delighted to take part in what he said was such an important and effective organisation.

He was joined by Heart Foundation chief executive Tony Duncan, who told the gathering at the Wellesley Rd site the foundation had a long-standing history in Hawke's Bay.

The new offices meant the team of two part-time staff members and "dedicated volunteers" would be able to offer even more support to the community.

The new site, which is next door to the Napier Health Centre, was strategically chosen as it would be alongside other organisations that effectively offered people a "one-stop shop" of health providers.

"It means we can be efficient with our advocacy work and will help create stronger relationships with health providers," Mr Duncan said.

One of the two staff members, heart health advocate Greg Edmunds, is a heart attack survivor and works to promote greater awareness of heart health risks, advocating for changes in attitudes, choices and behaviours around heart health.

His colleague, Tanya Jeffcoat, is health promotion co-ordinator.

She works with education providers to promote healthy environments through the foundation's education programmes Heart Start, the Healthy Heart Award and Food For Thought.

The branch, which is one of 19 across the country, is supported by volunteers.

It has a branch committee made up of a chairwoman and five committee members.

The foundation is a charity and relies heavily on public support as well as teams of volunteers who set up events and also take part in health seminars staged by businesses and organisations across the country.