Red Day festival combats heart disease with a dose of fun

BHF Cardiovascular Specialist Nurse, Sarah McStay, and chef Aazam Ahmad with their healthy Chili Ginger Salmon on Tagliatelle

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Over 600 attend British Heart Foundation event at Rochdale Town Hall to learn how to reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease from Heywood’s own ‘Queens of Heart’, the Red Day Festival on 21 February fincluded free food, family activities and advice on heart health at Rochdale Town Hall.

Heywood Cardiovascular Specialist Nurses Sarah McStay, Christine Reade and Ngaire Smith hosted the event with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to help area families identify their individual risk factors for heart disease, and learn more about how to incorporate healthier food choices and more physical activity into their lifestyles.

“Reducing the risk of heart disease is an issue for the whole family,” said BHF Cardiovascular Specialist Nurse, Sarah McStay. “Rochdale borough has one of the highest rates of coronary heart disease in the UK, and by showing families how simple it can be to lead an active lifestyle and make healthier food choices, we encourage habits that can help save lives.”

In regal style, the three nurses donned ‘Queen of Hearts’ costumes and teamed up with BBC Fusion Chef Aazam Ahmad for a live cooking presentation demonstrating how to reduce oil in everyday meals for members of the public including Rochdale Mayor James Gartside, and his wife, Councillor Jane Gartside.

“I’m inspired by the work that the British Heart Foundation and these three nurses are doing in Rochdale,” stated chef Aazam Ahmad. “Food is a central part of family life and it’s important to understand that healthy food can also be delicious, simple and fun.”

Activities at the festival also included a choir performance by the students of Shawclough Primary School, a circus skills and juggling class by Skylight Circus Arts, a Link4Life Zumba dance class and free Karate lessons by Sensai Dervish of Kaizen-Do Karate. BHF also provided CPR demonstrations, free food, face painting, a bouncy castle and raffled off a new bicycle for one lucky child.