National heart charity calls for people in Merseyside to "Sing for their hearts"

NATIONAL charity Heart Research UK is calling on performers across Merseyside to "Sing for Your Heart" in the run up to Christmas and raise money to help in the prevention, treatment and cure of heart disease.

Singing is good for your heart and recent studies have shown that the health benefits are both physical and psychological because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream.

The charity already has a 'Sing for Your Heart' event planned in Liverpool Lime Street Station, on 19 December 2014, between 4pm to 6pm and is appealing for performers to take part.

It is also calling on singers, choirs, music groups and performers across Merseyside to do their own event in the run up to Christmas (around 8 December to 15 December) and help make its biggest fundraising event of the year, the most successful ever.

Craig Holmes from Speke, Liverpool knows at 1st hand how devastating heart problems can be after losing his 23 year old sister Kaylea when she collapsed and later died from a heart condition on New Year's Day 2013. She'd suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy where the heart becomes weakened and enlarged.

Kaylea's family along with close friends want to raise awareness of her heart problem as well as funding for research into what is a condition that doesn't always produce significant symptoms.

Craig, a 24 year old fork lift truck driver, is calling on people in Merseyside to support the 'Sing for Your Heart' campaign and help fund more research to save the lives of others with heart problems.  Said Craig:- "Losing Kaylea has been devastating for our family and I wouldn't want others to have to go through what we have been through. Sing for Your Heart will help raise funds for Heart Research UK so it would be great for people to get involved if they can. If it helps to save just one more person's life at least it gives another family the chance that we never had."

Heart Research UK has funded £152,000 on research grants in Liverpool hospitals in the last 10 years, and over £30,000 on community healthy heart grants on Merseyside over the same period.

Heart Research UK ambassador and former Warrington Wolves assistant head coach Willie Poching, who recovered from a heart attack in 2012, supports Sing for Your Heart. Willie said:- "Singing is good for your heart so why not combine it with fundraising for Heart Research UK by putting on your own event and helping improve treatments and techniques fror people like myself who have suffered from heart problems. I know at first hand how important research into heart disease really is."

Barbara Harpham, National Director of Heart Research UK said:- "Everyone can Sing for their Hearts, whether you're in a band, choir or just partial to a bit of karaoke. It's the perfect excuse to get together with friends, family and colleagues to have fun and raise money for Heart Research UK particularly in the run up to Christmas when everyone is feeling festive."

Singing is also shown to be good for your heart. Professor Graham Welch, Chair of Music Education at the Institute of Education, University of London, has studied developmental and medical aspects of singing for 30 years. He says:- "The health benefits of singing are both physical and psychological. Singing has physical benefits because it is an aerobic activity that increases oxygenation in the blood stream and exercises major muscle groups in the upper body, even when sitting."

A more recent study was carried out at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden into music and wellbeing which showed how musical structure influenced the heart rate of choir members. Bjorn Vickhoff, who led a study, said:- "Singing is good for your health. Our research indicates that it may even be good for your heart. Further research in this field is much needed, such as the long term effect of choir singing."

You can also follow Heart Research UK on Twitter: @heartresearchuk or become a fan of our Facebook.

Mark Morriss is heading to the The Ship And Anchor

ON Friday, 24 October 2014, Mark Morriss will be performing live at The Ship And Anchor, located on Cable Street in Southport (PR9 0DF). He is a singer songwriter who famously made his name fronting English indie outfit 'The Bluetones'. If you don't know who the 'The Bluetones' were thy were an English indie rock band, formed in Hounslow, Greater London, in 1993. The 4 member group had an amazing 14 Top 10 Singles and 3 Top 10 Albums, whilst touring the UK, Europe and Japan, before they disbanded in 2011. This is a very special event and as the venue is small, it will be extreamly inveterate, so get their early as it will be very popular... Mark will also have support from:- Robert John, A Hollow Earth and Darren Leonard on the night. The event starts at 8pm and runs to late. What is better still... it is FREE ENTRY! So do not forget to arrive early as you will be disappointed if you don't see this event! For more information visit the venues Page.