The Healthy Heart and Lifestyle Club

A DUMBARTON exercise club has received a welcome funding boost from the Ross and Liddell Community Bursary Scheme.

The Healthy Heart and Lifestyle Club is a recipient of the property management company’s fifth annual funding programme, which provides support to organisations all over Scotland.

The group, which helps recovering heart patients, will use the cash to buy much needed supplies and equipment.

Healthy Heart and Lifestyle club was established over 25 years ago by staff from the Vale of Leven Hospital to help people who are recovering from heart incidents.

The programme, which is run by club members and a qualified instructor, provides tailored fitness classes to patients at weekly group meetings in the town’s Concord Community Centre.

Katryn Cross, group secretary of the Healthy Heart Club, said:

"We are delighted to have been chosen to receive funding from Ross and Liddell and are very grateful for their support.

We are always looking to buy new equipment as it is so well used by our members. Exercise plays a vital part in the recovery of heart patients but manyare understandably apprehensive and perhaps don’t know where to start.

Our group is a great help on the road to recovery and the friendships and bonds built here  support like-minded people in overcoming  their worries."

Ross and Liddell specialises in property management and maintenance, as well as providing a comprehensive range of residential and commercial services, including sales, lettings, surveying and insurance.

Now in its fifth year, the Community Bursary Scheme was launched to provide support to organisations that make a vital difference in their community.

Healthy Heart and Lifestyle Club is one of 31 groups to receive funding in this bursary year. Glasgow property manager Colin Johnstone made the presentation at the centre this month.

Irene Devenny, managing director of Ross and Liddell, said:

"The bursary has really gone from strength to strength and the number of entries that we received for the 2015 scheme was fantastic.

It’s so important that organisations like Healthy Heart and Lifestyle Club have access to funding sources.

The work the group does in the community to help recovering heart patients realise they can exercise and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle really is wonderful to see. We are thrilled to offer our support and know that the funding will be put to good use."