HEART UK appoints first non-medical Head of its Board of Trustees

Aug. 11, 2014 - PRLog -- Mr Edwards, who previously served as a HEART UK Trustee from 2002-2010, including a spell as Vice Chairman, got involved with the charity after being diagnosed with a blocked artery.

A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, he worked in industry in a variety of different sectors with companies such as ICI, Del Monte and McDonnell Douglas, working in a variety of roles including Financial Director and Managing Director.

HEART UK Chief Executive Ms Jules Payne said: “Ray Edwards is a valuable addition to HEART UK and his insights as a patient will prove to be invaluable for us as a charity. HEART UK is all about supporting patients and those affected by cholesterol and we look forward to working with Ray in future.”

Mr Edwards replaces Dr Robert Cramb, who becomes HEART UK Medical Director, a role he will hold until the autumn when he is replaced by fellow Trustee, Dr Alan Rees.

Now retired, Mr Edwards is married with three children and two grandchildren and spends his spare time gardening – and he opens his gardens to the public – and playing chess at international level.

ENDS

People wishing to find out more about raised cholesterol and associated conditions should contact: HEART UK on their helpline – 0345 450 5988, or visit www.heartuk.org.uk

NOTES TO EDITORS

HEART UK was formed in 2002 following a merger of The Family Heart Association (FHA) and the British Hyperlipidaemia Association (BHA).

HEART UK is an acronym for Hyperlipidaemia Education & Atherosclerosis Research Trust UK.

HEART UK - The Cholesterol Charity - promotes healthy hearts and better lives by:

• helping and supporting individuals, families and health professionals to understand and control cholesterol conditions and other heart risks

• promoting education and research to improve identification, prevention, treatment and care of cholesterol and lipid conditions

• working in partnership with government, the NHS, industry and other charities

• promoting best practice in addressing inherited and non-inherited cholesterol conditions

Six in 10 adults in the UK have cholesterol over 5mmol/l which is considered raised. Over 120,000 people in Britain have a form of inherited high cholesterol called Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH) which can cause premature death as those as young as 30 – and only 15% of those with the condition are known.

People wishing to find out more about FH should contact: HEART UK on the helpline – 0345 450 5988, or visit www.heartuk.org.uk