Family presented with charity heart award

Jenna McKay’s family and friends picked up the Special Achievement Award at a ceremony at BHF Scotland’s Annual Supporter Conference at the University of Edinburgh.

Jenna was 18 years old when she died suddenly of a heart condition. Pulling together, family and friends now fundraise continuously through the Jenna McKay BHF Fundraising Group in her memory. They organise an annual golf event, have climbed Ben Nevis and this year are planning to kayak around Loch Lomond to take their fundraising total to over £110,000.

https://giftofhope.bhf.org.uk/In-Memory/JennaMcKay

Jenna’s dad Andy said: “I would like to thank the BHF for this award, the work that the BHF carry out is fantastic at their research centres across the UK, hopefully one day they will find a cure for heart disease. I would also like to thank my work colleagues, friends and family who have participated in our events, donated to the fund and given their support, all of which is very much appreciated by my family and I.

James Cant, Director at BHF Scotland, said: “The family and friends of Jenna McKay are an inspirational group of people. This special award recognises their fight to stop families being left in the same devastating position. They are a perfect example of the extraordinary contribution made by our supporters. Without people like them we wouldn’t be able to fund life saving research.”

BHF Scotland’s Heart Hero Awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution of individuals and groups who are fighting for every heartbeat in Scotland, such as heart patients who are campaigning for better services, fundraisers who are raising vital money to fund life save heart research, funded scientists and health professionals.

Around 120 delegates attended the annual BHF Scotland Supporter Day at the University of Edinburgh’s Medical School at Little France where they heard about the £35 million of medical research being funded by the BHF at the university and were able to see this breakthrough science up close during exclusive lab tours.

Four Heart Hero Awards were presented in the categories: Inspiration; Fighting Spirit (for people affected by congenital heart disease), Young Heart Hero and Heart Health Professional. As well as the Special Achievement Award, awards were also made to fundraising groups and individuals and to people whose quick action using CPR has helped to save lives.