The statement below was presented at the Hearts & Souls AGM held on Friday 24th Sept 2021.
Chairman’s Statement:
This is my first Chairman’s Statement having reported as Acting Chairman for several years. Due to the worldwide pandemic last year was a very quiet one for our Charity as both the rehabilitation efforts at Ward 4A and other venues were considerably curtailed, and our usual fundraising events could not be arranged.
However, donations continued to arrive for which we are extremely grateful. Of note was a donation of £1,000 from our regular supporters Burkes Lodge. Since the year end there has been another very generous £1,600 raised by over 60 sponsors for Emily Ward who entered a half marathon for her friend Gina who was diagnosed with heart failure brought on when pregnant with her second child and who benefitted from the work of the cardiac rehabilitation team at Stoke Mandeville.
We met with the rehab team at Ward 4A a few weeks ago and appreciated how they were managing to liaise with their patients remotely but gradually seeing more face to face as some normality returns to our lives. Very recently we have learnt that the Ward is open and running classes although with restricted numbers. The team hopes that numbers will be back to normal by next year, and more classes will then be possible.
I am pleased to welcome Peter Jemmett as a new Trustee. He has been a long time supporter of the charity and has already demonstrated his expertise at assisting with managing our website and database.
Hopefully during 2022 the UK and the NHS will return to a more normal routine and Hearts & Souls will be able to re-establish our sponsored Thames Valley Spring Walk and Autumn London Bridges Walk as well as other fundraising efforts. We look forward to when Hearts & Souls can return to the acclaimed success that has been enjoyed since its formation over 20 years ago.
Steve Wildman
23rd August 2021
