Focus on Middleton: Middleton Heartline Club

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The Chairman of Heartline, Peter Downing with the Mayor of Rochdale and Heartline's ladies rep, Val Screeton at the 20th birthday celebrations in October

The Middleton Heartline Club was founded in 1990 by six heart patients as a continuum of the rehabilitation they had received at the North Manchester General Hospital.

The group had a few members and not much more than a skipping rope, now twenty years on they have 267 members and use the facilities at the state of the art Middleton Arena.

At the twice weekly meets members can have a coffee and a natter and take part in various exercises which include using rowing machines, bikes, trampolines, playing badminton or taking part in armchair exercise.

However, the group is about much more than just exercise. For many it is a way of meeting people, a chance to get out of the house and socialise and for some it is an opportunity to put aside the fears following their heart trouble and to carry on living.

Chairman Peter Downing said: “There isn’t a heart group like this anywhere in the country.

“We are here to make sure members are content and happy with their lives. We feel that Heartline is on the map.”

The clubs aims are to encourage interaction and develop lasting friendships, provide an environment with facilities to encourage a healthier lifestyle, share problems, and maintain a better quality of life.

Members are now keen to see the club open three days a week because they enjoy it so much.

Mr Downing added: “Many of the members were vulnerable. Following a heart problem or surgery you feel very frightened and aware but after one or two weeks coming here you settle in. We are like one big family.”

Aside from the gym meets the members also go on country walks, enjoy days out, and an annual weeks holiday. They are currently getting ready for their ‘Turkey and Tinsel’ Christmas event.

Of course, like any voluntary group, Heartline needs funding to run. It is estimated it needs about £20,000 per year to run the club. It currently relies on grants, but members are keen to introduce more internal fundraising. Recently they raised over £4000 from a sponsored three mile walk in Heaton Park, and around £1,000 from a bag packing event at Morrison’s.

Vice chairman for six years, Bill Patterson, said: “It is hard work but it is worth it all, when you see them on a day out enjoying themselves all the hard work seems worth while.”

When the group moved to the Middleton Arena in 2008 some members thought it wouldn’t work, but with numbers raising all the time, it seems it was a good move.

Mr Downing said a highlight for him was when the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Zulfiqar Ali visited the club on their 20th birthday, he added: “Everything about it is good, the people talking around us is great, bringing people together is great.”

Chairman of the club, Mr Downing, and Vice Chairman Mr Patterson claim they are like chalk and cheeses, but said they enjoy every minute of being involved.

When asked what the future holds Mr Downing said: “Much of the same, we hope more people will come and join us and we can help them to enjoy their life and extend it.

“We would hope to get some permanent funding or a benefactor that could help us. That would be a great help.

“If this place was to close there would be a lot of broken hearts. It can never be allowed to close it would be a disaster.”