BAM raises £145,000 for British Heart Foundation’s life saving research

A Hemel Hempstead-based company has celebrated raising over £145,000 to help the British Heart Foundation (BHF) fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases.

BAM Construct UK, who design, construct, refurbish and operate buildings across the country, was announced as a partner of the BHF in February 2021.

Over the last two years, the company held a number of challenges and fundraising events including staff wrapping Christmas presents for shoppers at the Atria shopping centre in Watford, helping to raise muchneeded funds. In total, BAM raised £145,120 for the charity.

Colleagues also learnt to become lifesavers by taking part in CPR training and the company has committed to training its entire UK workforce in these essential skills.

The money raised by BAM will help the BHF fund vital research into heart and circulatory diseases like heart attacks, stroke and vascular dementia, and the risk factors that can cause them, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Since forming in 1961, the charity has funded research that has contributed to lifesaving breakthroughs such as heart transplants, pacemakers, portable defibrillators, and valve replacements.

Despite the huge progress made, heart and circulatory conditions are still the world’s biggest killers - and every three minutes in the UK, a family loses a loved one to a heart or circulatory disease. Around 120,000 people are living with these conditions in Herftfordshire alone.

Beth Kidd - BAM

Beth Kidd, National Community Engagement Coordinator at BAM

“Our colleagues are so proud to have reached this phenomenal fundraising milestone for the

British Heart Foundation and help make a real difference for those living with heart and circulatory diseases.

“With these conditions killing one in four people in the UK alone, it’s inspiring to know that the money we have raised will help fund the scientific breakthroughs of tomorrow to save and improve lives.”

Nicola Reavey, BHF Fundraising Manager for Hertfordshire, said: “We are so grateful that BAM has raised such an incredible amount of money, and want to say a heartfelt thank you to all their colleagues for their fantastic fundraising efforts.

“For more than 60 years, the British Heart Foundation has funded research that has turned ideas that once seemed like ‘science fiction’ into treatments and cures that save lives every day. But millions of people are still waiting for the next breakthrough.