Magical night for Heartwize

HEARTWIZE is a charity that Bradgate Rotary has supported over the years. On Shrove Tuesday, February 17, the club held a Magical Night Out at the Chef and Spice Restaurant in Hinckley Road, Leicester, to raise funds for the charity.

More than 90 of our supporters joined us for an evening of great food and magic and raised £1,530.

The Heartwize Programme aims to increase public awareness of the problem of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, to ensure that basic resuscitation skills are taught in schools and to improve awareness and provision of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in the community.

By providing support and training in basic resuscitation skills, Rotarians hope to ensure that everyone knows how to recognize and respond to a cardiac arrest. This will increase the chance of survival for those affected and could save lives.

During the evening, Professor Bill Toff, founder and director of Heartwize, gave a brief talk about the organisation. Diners were astounded by the table magic performed by Freddie Wilkinson.

The evening was a great success, thanks to the meticulous planning of member Jim Steel who, sadly, was unwell and could not attend. Past president Alan Rockey p[resented a bouquet to Jim’s wife Katie, who had done so much to help organise the event.

Later we learned that Syed Rahman, the proprietor of the Chef and Spice restaurant had died a few days after the event. Mr Rahman had been made a CBE in recognition in helping Rotary clubs and other charities raise hundreds of thousands of pounds.

And more recently we were saddened to hear that David Morris, a member of Melton Mowbray Rotary Club, had also died. Bradgate Rotary is one of many clubs that David helped establish during his time as District Extension Officer. He went on to become District Governor – the lead Rotarian – in the East Midlands of England. His innovative approach led to Rotary being much more inclusive. Rotary members are grateful to him and supportive of his wife, Margaret and their family.

You can see David in the main photo on our Home 'Welcome' page. He is standing at theleft-hand end of the big cheque.