A football legend has kicked off a vital fundraiser as part of an appeal to help keep the region’s heart unit at the cutting edge of medical technology.
Former Middlesbrough star, Graeme Souness returned to Teesside to launch the Loving Hearts Raffle at James Cook University Hospital, aiming to raise £100,000 in support of the South Cleveland Heart Fund’s £1m Cardiac MR Appeal.
TV pundit Souness, who also starred as a player for Liverpool, Sampdoria and Rangers before managing clubs including Newcastle United, has an emotional connection to the fundraiser as he underwent major heart surgery at the age of 38.
He went on to open the unit at the hospital in 1992 and today was back again at the launch of a big Rotary Club push towards the refurbishment of one of the hospital’s MRI scanners.
The 61-year-old said: “Middlesbrough was one of the happiest times I had as a football player. It is an area that is very close to my heart.
“This is a world class unit and to continue this we need to have the latest equipment.
“It is paramount that we raise this money to continue what has been going on here and to remain a world class unit.”
He added: “I am eager to help as much as I can.
“Heart disease is the biggest killer in the UK. Anything that I can do to heighten the awareness I will.”
In recent years MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scanning has become a key method for diagnosing heart problems, as it provides detailed images that enable targeted treatment with significantly improved results for patients - but the unit is struggling to meet demand.
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has committed £2.3 million to buy a new state-of-the-art scanner to replace one of the hospital’s ageing machines.
However, the unit’s second scanner needs an upgrade to meet the demands of a catchment area covering 1.6 million people, stretching across Teesside, North Yorkshire, County Durham and Cumbria.
Graeme, who had a heart bypass, said: “It can strike anyone at anytime. I was working as a manager and a coach at the time. I was extremely fit, training everyday.
“I had no indication that I had a problem.
“It was through a scanner like this that I found out.
“Twenty-odd years later I am still here to talk about it and I am feeling great.
“Without this machine people will lose their lives.”
Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, with the support of almost 30 Rotary clubs across the region, has organised the region-wide raffle.
The top prize is a Skoda Citigo sponsored by Middlesbrough’s Derek Slack Motors. Other prizes include hotel and spa breaks, family days out and restaurant meals.
Former cardiologist, Dr Adrian Davies, chairman of the South Cleveland Heart Fund, said: “This is an opportunity for people across the region to safeguard a vital service to the community.
“If heart scanning capacity is not increased to this level, the regional Cardiothoracic Centre at the hospital may lose its place in the top division of the UK’s heart units.”
Mike Overy, of Middlesbrough Erimus Rotary Club, chairman of the Loving Hearts Raffle committee, added: “Since deciding to run the raffle we’ve received great support from all of the Rotary Clubs across the region.
“The support we have had so far has been tremendous.”
Tickets are being sold at Boots stores across the region this weekend. They will also be on sale at events leading up to the prize draw on June 20 at Middlesbrough’s Thistle Hotel.
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