Have A Heart… Of Steel

Sarah Sugden has paid tribute to friends and family af fected by hear t disease by having their names engraved on the British Hear t Foundation (BHF) Hear t of Steel at Sheffield’s Meadowhall shopping centre.

“I was born with a congenital hear t defect and had corrective open-heart surgery when I was five,” explains Sarah. “I have been a huge suppor ter of the BHF ever since, as operations like mine are made possible by the incredible research that the charity funds.

“Last year, my husband made a donation to have my name put on the BHF Hear t of Steel. It has hundreds of thousands of engravings dedicated to those living with hear t disease or those who have sadly passed away as a result. Last April, we paid an emotional visit to see my name up there and I was so proud. I have now donated a few times in memor y of loved ones and friends to have their names engraved and I’ve also star ted the Facebook group ‘Hear t of Steel Forever’ for other BHF suppor ters who have engravings. We share stories and photos and suppor t each other – like a hear t family.

“Just before lockdown, I was due to star t volunteering at my local BHF store. Instead, I donated for another engraving, this time in memor y of my Nan who died in 2005 from hear t disease. Other names I’ve added to the hear t are those of my husband Andrew, my father-in-law, my son

Jack and my uncle who died suddenly after suf fering a hear t attack at the age of just 53.

“I can’t wait to visit the Hear t of Steel again after lockdown to see all these names. It really has touched so many lives.”

The BHF is committed to putting patients with hear t and circulator y disease like Sarah first during this crisis, and guaranteeing funding of vital research. See www.bhf.org.uk