January 22, 2024

A group of local people from Cockermouth & Maryport launched the Community Stroke and Heart Heroes Group today. The group all care about your heart and want to help prevent people having a stroke.

They will be turning up at events, groups and activities in their local communities in Allerdale to offer local people a chance to have their blood pressure and heart rate tested. They will also be on hand to provide tips and information about keeping active, eating well and reducing stress.

Members of the group come from a range of organisations including:

• Ewanrigg Community Trust
• Cockermouth Rotary
• Fit4Life
• Local GP Patient Participation Group
• Local pharmacies
• Local GP surgeries
• Cumberland Council

Links with local GPs and pharmacies mean that if you are tested and get an abnormal result the group can make sure you get the right help from the right professional as soon as possible.

Lots of people don’t have the time to get to their GP to get tested regularly and as a result problems aren’t detected at an early stage. The group isn’t here to take the place of the brilliant work GP’s do but to help provide local people with a quick easy opportunity to get tested on the spot.

The group met in The Centre (Ewanrigg Maryport) today to learn how to test people’s heart rate.

Clare Edwards, a member of staff at Cumbria CVS, volunteers for the project through our Employer Supported Volunteering programme and said “My family has been affected by stroke and atrial fibrillation. I just wanted to do something really practical to support local people in my local community. I’m really excited to get involved and can’t wait to get started”.

For more information, contact Clare by emailing claree@cumbriacvs.org.uk

You can read a press release from Cumberland Council about the group here

Watch of a video about the launch below: