Spectrum Beats for British Heart Foundation

Published on: 27 Feb, 2013
Updated on: 27 Feb, 2013

From left to right: Shirley West BEM, Mayor Jenny Jordan, Spectrum Manager Rob Price and BHF Fundraiser, Brian Smith

From left: BHF fundraiser Shirley West BEM; the Mayor of Guildford, Jennifer Jordan; Spectrum marketing manager Rob Price; and BHF fundraiser Brian Smith.

Guildford Spectrum leisure centre has teamed up with the British Heart Foundation to raise much needed funds for the charity.

The centre, now managed by Freedom Leisure on behalf of Guildford Borough Council, is one of 34 leisure venues in portfolio of Freedom Leisure who are now in their second year of supporting the foundation. It has raised a £25,000 in that time.

To launch the partnership at Spectrum and to kick start the fundraising activity the complex took part in the BHF’s national campaign ‘Rock up in Red’. The complex encouraged all its visitors on Friday, February 1st to skate, exercise, workout and even swim wearing something red! £350.00 was raised on the day with more donations still to come.

Freedom Leisure’s marketing manager Rob Price said: “Spectrum is the largest and most successful leisure complex in the UK and we’re delighted to be working with BHF. One of our key objectives is to get the community active which contributes to the health and well being of the people of Guildford and helps fight heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer.”

The staff at Spectrum will be working closely with the local Guildford branch of the BHF and its chairman Shirley West who recently was awarded a British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours list for her untiring work for a number of local charities including BHF.

Shirley commented on the collaboration saying; “This is so exciting. Working with the team at Spectrum is going to be so much fun and I know they will be pulling out all the stops in making this a successful year for fundraising. The ‘Rock up in Red’ campaign will be the first of many initiatives we will be organising together.”

Attending the launch and supporting the partnership was the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Jennifer Jordan. She said: “Spectrum is a great community attraction and I’ve no doubt that with the drive an enthusiasm of Shirley and her committee, coupled with the excellent staff at Spectrum, the relationship will be very fruitful.”