The partnership aims to raise awareness and funds for Croí’s free Heartlink West helpline which connects callers with a cardiac nurse for one-to-one advice.

 The partnership and instore fundraiser kicked off on World Heart Day and will be running until World Stroke Day on October 29. Customers will be able to donate directly via bucket donations at till points.

Information posters containing key information about Croí’s dedicated heart and stroke helpline, Heartlink West, will be displayed in 10 Joyce’s stores across Co.Galway, and will also include a QR code for customers to donate online.

Croí’s mission is to prevent disease, save lives and promote recovery and wellbeing. In 2020, the charity launched Heartlink West, a free support service for people living with, or affected by, heart disease and stroke.

Pandemic increase

The service was launched following an increase in support requests as a result of the pandemic.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death in people above the age of 60, and the fifth leading cause of death in people aged 15 to 59 years old.

Each year, approximately 10,000 Irish people have a stroke and around 2,000 die – more deaths than breast cancer, prostate cancer and bowel cancer combined.

Through Heartlink West, the Croí Health Team offer weekly virtual chats on a range of topics with expert presenters. The public can also call the free support line for one-to-one advice with a cardiac nurse specialist.

Raising awareness

Aisling Joyce, Director of Operations for Joyce’s Supermarkets, said: “Joyce’s Supermarkets is proud to partner with Croí for the coming weeks to support their work and to raise awareness amongst our customer base of the Heartlink West online service, a vital service for people in the West of Ireland.

“Over the coming weeks, our customers will be able to support Croí by donating in store and to learn more about its work in the region through our digital platforms.”

Christine Flanagan, Director of Fundraising for Croí, said: “Throughout the pandemic, our Heartlink West support service has been a lifeline for people living with, or affected by, heart disease or stoke in the West of Ireland. We are so grateful to Joyce’s Supermarkets and Joyce’s customers for their fundraising support as it helps Croí to continue to provide these vital services for free.”

The Croí team is available Monday to Friday from 9:00am – 5:30pm by phone on 091 544310 or email healthteam@croi.ie.

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Daybreak has launched a new Around the World Challenge in aid of the Irish Heart Foundation this summer. Over 300 Daybreak employees representing 96 Daybreak stores have embarked on a month-long active challenge to travel a combined 40,075km, by walking, running, and cycling the distance around the world.

Each store is asking customers, family and friends to sponsor employees along their journey to help achieve their fundraising target.

Vasco Vilas, Assistant Brand Manager with Daybreak said: “We care about people in our communities across Ireland, and understand and respond to their everyday needs.

Save lives

“We are proud to support the Irish Heart Foundation in its mission to save lives by eliminating premature death and avoidable disability from cardiovascular disease and ask customers to support our challenge.”

Every euro raised during the challenge will go directly to the Irish Heart Foundation. The funds raised will help the charity to continue to be there, educate, support and advocate for patients and their families as they are diagnosed with a new heart condition, are recovering from a stroke or heart event, or learning to live well with a condition.

Generosity

Mary Anne Sweeney, Corporate Partnerships Manager with the Irish Heart Foundation added:
“We are so thankful for Daybreak, and it’s employees for taking on this exciting challenge to help heart and stroke patients all across Ireland. Through their generosity, we will support people in local communities and put a comforting arm around the shoulder when they need it most.”

In 2020, the Irish Heart Foundation supported over 5,000 patients and this year they anticipate a 25% increase in demand for their services across local communities.

Daybreak is a long-term corporate partner of the Irish Heart Foundation and is committed to supporting the thousands of individuals living with heart disease and stroke across communities in Ireland.

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