British Heart Foundation Bag it Beat it

Tue 15 Sep, 2015

Help save a life with the British Heart Foundation at the Merrion Centre this September

The Merrion Centre, Leeds is delighted to announce they will be hosting British Heart Foundation (BHF) Bag It. Beat It. event on Saturday 12th September, which urges the Leeds community to donate bags full of their unwanted stuff to be sold in local BHF shops. Every bag donated will help fund lifesaving heart research, helping over seven million people continue to fight heart disease.

Last year the BHF raised over £130 million from voluntary income alone. In the same year £115.5 million was committed to funding new medical research*. This enabled them to fund scientists at more than 40 different locations in the UK. This year they are hoping to raise even more with the help of Leeds. The Bag It. Beat It. event will also help raise awareness of the devastating effects a sudden heart disease diagnosis can have on a family.

The Bag It. Beat It. event at the Merrion Centre will be officially launched by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Judith Chapman, when she donates the first bag of items at 12pm on the launch day.

Between Saturday 12th and Sunday 20th September, volunteers will be in the Merrion Centre, giving out stock donation bags and asking shoppers to fill a bag with unwanted clothes, shoes, books, handbags, DVDs, CDs, bric-a-brac and children’s toys then take it to the drop point in the centre or the BHF shop.

Cassie Turner, Events Planner for the Merrion Centre, commented:

“We are delighted to be hosting a Bag It. Beat It. event this year as it helps to raise lifesaving funds and vital awareness for a fantastic cause. Last year our generous shoppers donated a magnificent 282 bags, but this year we want to push for more.”

BHF Area Manager, Louise Ball, said:

“We’re urging everyone in Leeds to have a clear out this September and donate bags of their unwanted stuff to Bag it. Beat it.

“People often don’t realise that the books, shoes or dress they donate to or buy from their local BHF shop actually raises vital funds and helps pay for life saving research.

“Every week around 2,000 families lose a loved one to heart disease, but with continued support from local people, the BHF can fight harder to reduce this figure.”

For more information and to find your local BHF shop visit www.bhf.org.uk/bagit

*Data 2013/2014 financials