Newland Concert Brass in charity concert
NEWLAND Concert Brass is holding a charity concert featuring music from the world of stage and screen.
The Bathgate-based band is performing on Saturday May 9 to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) Research Project in Leicester.
The rare cardiac condition often strikes out of the blue, but unlike coronary heart disease (CHD) which is the UK's single biggest killer, it doesn't appear to be preventable. SCAD usually strikes between the ages of 19 and 64, with women making up 80 per cent of those with the condition. One example is Jennifer Heenan, who plays euphonium in Newland Concert Brass. Her twin sister Karen explained: "I was shocked when my sister suffered a heart attack caused by SCAD in November 2013, having had no warning signs or risk factors associated with heart disease such as high cholesterol.
"We have since learned that this is the case with most SCAD survivors and although sadly some patients suffer long term damage and experience bypass surgery and heart failure, Jennifer is in fact one of the lucky ones who now only requires daily medication."
Karen, principal cornet player with Newland Concert Brass, added: "Further research is needed to help us better understand this rare condition and I am delighted that the British Heart Foundation is funding the UK's first ever research project into SCAD in Leicester."
Louise Parkes, fundraising director at BHF, said: "We'd like to encourage as many people as possible to buy tickets for the concert, which promises to be great fun for everyone involved. By engaging in events like this, you are helping our life-saving and life-changing work to continue. We're fighting for every heartbeat but we can't do it without you."
The Movies and Musicals concert takes place on Saturday, May 9 at 7pm in the Regal Community Theatre, Bathgate.
Tickets cost £6 and are on sale now from the Regal box office by calling 01506 630085 or via the Regal Theatre website.
