British Heart Foundation launch gospel choir to help people improve their heart health
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched its first gospel choir in a bid to help people from African Caribbean communities reduce their risk of developing heart disease or having a stroke.
African Caribbean men and women are twice as likely to have a stroke as people of European origin.1 However, according to figures from the BHF, around one in four African Caribbean adults in the UK don’t realise their ethnicity increases the risk of high blood pressure and diabetes – major risk factors for stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD).2
The choir, which performed for the first time at Jamaican Commission on May 29th, will use it’s performances to help communities understand the simple lifestyle changes that can reduce their risk of heart disease, such as being more active and having a better diet. It will also fundraise to support the BHF’s valuable research into fighting heart disease.
Many of the choir’s 20 members, aged between 13 and 70, were inspired to join the choir by their own experiences of heart disease and stroke.
Sharmen Robinson (44), a British Heart Foundation Gospel Choir member, said:
“I was diagnosed with a serious heart defect two years ago, shortly after the birth of my second daughter. I had to undergo open heart surgery. It was a tough time for me and my family but it made me stronger and determined to help people better understand heart problems. I love singing and have always sung in a choir. So when I was presented with the opportunity to join the BHF Gospel Choir, I jumped at the chance. It was the perfect way to combine both my passions.”
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Ali Orhan, Project Manager at the BHF, said:
“We’re always looking for new ways to raise awareness of heart health with the groups at greatest risk of developing heart disease. Gospel choirs are at the heart of so many African Caribbean communities. With people from these communities most at risk of having high blood pressure or a stroke, our BHF Gospel Choir can play a vital role in raising awareness within these communities around how people can reduce their risks of developing heart conditions.”
The choir has been set up in partnership with RAFFA – a charity with expertise in working with African Caribbean communities to tackle health issues.
Rudi Page, CEO at RAFFA, said:
We are delighted to be working in partnership with the BHF on this heart health and faith communities programme. The BHF Gospel Choir will be performing around the country at conventions, festivals and health and wellbeing fairs. This is an innovative approach that I’m confident will help people within African and Caribbean communities improve their heart health through diet, nutrition and through living a healthier lifestyle.”
The BHF has a free booklet called Healthy Living Healthy Heart designed specifically for African Caribbean communities. It can be ordered or downloaded at the BHF’s website – bhf.org.uk/africancaribbean
