STAFF from the Royal Bank of Canada joined forces with volunteers from Jersey Heart Support Group to complete a marathon walking challenge in aid of Islanders living with heart conditions.
Participants covered 26.2 miles, with some completing the distance in one or two days, while others completed the challenge over the course of a month.
The fundraising initiative was supported through RBC’s ‘My Community’ platform, which enables staff to volunteer and donate to local charities throughout the year.
The money raised has contributed to the installation of an automated external defibrillator at Corbière Phare and funded a portable AED for the Jersey Basketball Association in memory of a colleague.
Vital diagnostic equipment was also among the items donated to the cardiac unit in Jersey Hospital by the charity, including BNP (B-type natriuretic peptide) test strips.
Dr Aaron Henry, who works on the unit, explained that the strips allow clinicians to carry out a finger-prick test and receive results in 12 minutes, rather than waiting hours for traditional blood test results.
He said: “The BNP strips have been great.”
“We are using this technology to streamline testing in our research trials at the minute, allowing us to screen many people quickly”
With the funds raised, the charity has also donated 25 Kardia machines, which Jersey nurse consultant Angela Hall explained will help patients monitor heart rhythm problems, reduce waiting times and improve access to care.
She said: “These devices enable patients to self-monitor and capture relevant symptoms with a live ECG.
“These can then be shared with their health professional and can help diagnose and manage symptoms appropriately.”
“We are very grateful for the support and donation from RBC and wider groups who fundraise for the Jersey Heart Support Group.”
