Coronary heart disease is Scotland’s single biggest killer and all too often it strikes suddenly and unexpectedly.

For the past 56 years, the British Heart Foundation has been fighting back against heart disease by funding research that saves lives. Great strides have been made but there’s so much more to do, to prevent the sudden devastation families face as a result of heart disease. BHF Scotland are always keen for local people to join the fight and show their support and there are 3 great events happening in September you can get involved in:

LADIES LUNCH – 10th September – Edinburgh
The first event is a ladies lunch on the 10th September at Village Hotel on Crewe Road South, from 12-4pm. This is being run by the hotel in collaboration with BHF Scotland, who will be there on the day to speak a bit about the work of the BHF, their research and the importance of donations. In addition, guests will enjoy a glass of bubbly on arrival and a two course lunch with entertainment from solo swing tribute singer Andy Miller. £5 from each ticket plus all proceeds from the raffle will go to BHF Scotland. BHF Scotland are also in the midst of organising some bespoke retailers to join the event for some shopping opportunities on the day. If you would like to donate anything to the raffle, please contact Sarah Miller, Fundraising Manager at BHF Scotland on 07702 917 677 or millers@bhf.org.uk. To book tickets or for further info on the event please contact Village Hotel directly on 0131 297 7111 or email edinburghhub@village-hotels.com.

KILTWALK – 17th September – Edinburgh
Would you like to be a Kiltwalk hero and take big steps for the BHF on 17th September? With three walk lengths to choose from (5 miles / 12 miles and 26 miles), there is sure to be a Kiltwalk to suit you! If you would like to take part in the Edinburgh Kiltwalk this year and pledge to raise £200 for BHF Scotland, Sarah at the BHF can offer you a free place but don’t delay as places are limited!
The usual fee to take part is £31.65. BHF are already delighted to have members of staff from Haines Watts (one of the BHF’s wonderful corporate partners) and members of the Edinburgh BHF Researchers Fundraising Group signed up. For more info please visit: http://www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/events/edinburgh/.

HEART OF SCOTLAND DINNER – 21st September – Glasgow
The third event is the inaugural Heart of Scotland Dinner. It will be held at Oran Mor in Glasgow on Thursday 21st September, 6:30pm until late. The aim of this event is to raise funds for the pioneering research carried out by BHF’s researchers but also to raise awareness locally of the research taking place at their Centre of Research Excellence in the West End of Glasgow, just a 10 minute walk from Oran Mor itself. The ticket price (£60 pp) includes a drinks reception, a 3-course meal with tea or coffee and live entertainment. There will also be a charity auction and some surprises on the night! For tickets please contact Deirdre Curley on curleyd@bhf.org.uk or 07412 573274

On a warm day in May, a group of around thirty (mostly) women joined us at the G&V Royal Mile Hotel for our monthly Inspiring Women in Business Lunch. Our guest speaker was Tracey McNellan, a woman boasting an illustrious career in the fast-paced media industry.

From early on in the event, delegates relaxed in to the comfortable surrounds of the G&V, drink in hand, where they were given the opportunity to network prior to being whisked in to the dining room to hear from our guest speaker.

In something of a break from the norm, this Inspiring Women in Business event was held Q&A style with one of Tracey’s colleagues – Paul Harper of Heart Scotland’s drive time show – quizzing Tracey on a range of topics, from her early career to challenges she’s faced to radio’s place in today’s world. Paul informed the crowd that the last Q&A he hosted was with the lawyers of Steven Avery, the man made famous by the documentary Making a Murderer. This Q&A, he assured, would be much more light-hearted.

They covered Tracey’s career first, noting her background in computing and early love of music, which undoubtedly influenced the direction her life would later take. We learned of Tracey’s determined nature from an early age, where when she told her mother about her intentions to take on a sales role and being told she didn’t have enough experience in sales, she replied with a straightforward; “I’ll learn”. They spoke of her rapid career progression, winning the roles of Sales Manager at only 25 and Sales Director at 29, and her philosophy that – to counter those who believed she was too young for such a senior role – “if you’re capable enough, you’re old enough”.

Radio and the wider media industry are seen as ever-exciting and fun places to work, yet like most businesses they don’t come without their challenges. We heard next of some of the obstacles Tracey has faced in her many roles (and in her personal life, too). She spoke of her earlier marriage, the changes she has seen her workplaces undertake as the media industry has evolved, and her conflict of choosing between her career and her personal life – notably, a career move that would see her move to Nottingham for the role of Managing Director at Capital FM East Midlands, at the cost of leaving behind a life she loved in Scotland.

Tracey couldn’t stay South forever though, and eventually moved back to Scotland for the role of Managing Director at Global Scotland (Heart & Smooth), where even today she and her team face challenges that many radio stations face in a world of constant and rapid technological and societal change. She believes that radio must continue to “evolve and change rapidly”, and that in this time of ‘fake news’ radio must hold on to it’s status as an instant, yet trusted source of information.

We heard a little of Tracey’s life outside of work, too. While she admits that it can be difficult to ‘switch off’, she enjoys coaching other businesses and, while in Nottingham, took up a side project of becoming a yoga and pilates teacher.

Tracey then talked us through a typical day – well, as typical as one could be, given that “no two days are the same, because it’s radio [and] things happen, and we need to react”. That concluded the Q&A, and after applause, lunch arrived. The staff at G&V promptly delivered our plates, a delicious pork belly, followed by a dessert of honeycomb and ice cream, and tea and coffee.

During dessert, there was the opportunity for delegates to ask any burning questions – after which Tracey and Paul had to take their leave. Paul was due to host the drive time show in only a couple hours time and while we were enjoying their company, as Liz McAreavey said, “we’d rather not be responsible for silence on the air this afternoon”.

Our next Inspiring Women in Business Lunch will be held on June 27^th at the Waldorf Astoria, where we will hear from Catherine Topley, Director of Corporate Services at Scottish Prison Service. Click here to book your place.