CELEBRATIONS Michelle crowned a heart hero
A CARDIAC physiotherapy technician has been made a British Heart Foundation Heart Hero for her commitment to helping improve the lives of heart patients and their families.
Michelle Johnson, who works for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, received the plaudit at the annual Heart Hero Awards.
The awards recognise and celebrate the exceptional contribution British Heart Foundation volunteers and supporters make to the fight against heart disease.
Michelle decided to volunteer after she was involved in a car accident in 2013 and needed intensive physiotherapy to get back on her feet.
Michelle contacted the cardiac rehabilitation service at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, to volunteer in the cardiac rehabilitation programme.
As well as having a full-time job and a young family, Michelle decided to volunteer to help the cardiac rehab team run their exercise sessions for two years and has recently gained employment in the role of a cardiac physiotherapy technician.
She also funded herself through the BACPR exercise instructor course, and has since established three maintenance exercise classes which she runs three times a week, as well as continuing to support the cardiac rehab programme.
Michelle uses British Heart Foundation leaflets and the Heart Matters magazine to promote the British Heart Foundation to patients in her classes.
She also continues her community support by organising fundraising events and has raised more than £5,000 to date. The funds are then used to fund life-saving defibrillators for local communities and schools.
Michelle said: “The rewards of volunteering and working with the local community are immense to me. I have gained new qualification and met new friends for life.
“The cardiac rehab team (specialist cardiac nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians and occupational therapists) do an awesome job and I feel honoured to be part of this great team.”
Angela Melvin, cardiac rehabilitation nurse, said: “Shelley is a very motivating and enthusiastic individual who is a great asset to us. She has qualified as a BACPR cardiac rehabilitation instructor and has set up community classes that cardiac patients go onto after the hospital programme.
“She has done all of this while working full time as an engineer and being a busy mum of three boys. I’d like to congratulate her on this award, it is very well deserved.”