Maureen and Shirley Honoured for 40 Years of British Heart Foundation Fundraising

Published on: 30 Nov, 2025
Updated on: 1 Dec, 2025

Maureen Lemin and Shirley West of Guildford have been honoured by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) for their 40 years of fundraising for the charity.

Shirley West (left) and Maureen Lemin with their British Heart Foundation award. Picture:  DFphotography.co.uk / Danny Fitzpatrick.

They were presented with the BHF’s outstanding contribution award at a ceremony held at The Bloomsbury Ballroom in London.

Shirley and Maureen’s journey began in 1985 when Maureen’s father faced heart problems. Asked to help organise a raffle, Maureen turned to her lifelong friend Shirley for support.

Maureen said: “My father had a leaky valve, and in those days, it wasn’t so easy to treat.

“The doctor and the hospital were so good to him I wanted to give something back. Shirley agreed to help for a year, and here we are – 40 years later – still fundraising.”

Maureen Lemin (centre standing) and Shirley West (far right) pictured at their first fund-raising raffle drawn at the Bulls Head pub, Guildford, in 1985.

The pair have become the driving force behind the BHF’s Guildford and Godalming area fundraising group.

In addition to raising money for the BHF, they have also supported the Royal Surrey Hospital, helping to fund heart scanners, community defibrillators, and countless initiatives that have improved heart health across Surrey.

Shirley estimates the group has raised around £10 million, and said: “This accolade is the highlight of mine and Maureen’s 40 years of volunteering with the BHF. It was amazing to receive this award and to be part of such a spectacular evening was the icing on the cake.”

Maureen added: “At the event, we heard stories of other winners – people with heart conditions who owe their life to medical advances. That’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

The BHF’s Heart Hero Awards, now in their eighth year, celebrates inspiring people who have shown remarkable bravery or who have gone above and beyond to help others while coping with the impact of cardiovascular disease.

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