British Heart Foundation launches its 2008 Valentine's Appeal for £1 million
Howard Lake | 17 January 2008 | News
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has launched its annual Valentine Appeal which aims to raise £1 million. As February 14 approaches the charity is asking people to think of other hearts too by ‘Giving a Gift that Saves Lives’.
Focusing on Valentine’s Day, this year’s campaign includes:
· Celebrity Childhood Crushes: this year the BHF Chief Executive, Peter Hollins, has teamed up with some of the charity’s celebrity supporters to reminisce about their childhood crushes. Celebrities backing the Appeal this year include Holby City star, Tina Hobley; TV presenter, Sara Cawood; Former ‘House of Tiny Tearaways’ Presenter, Dr Tanya Bryon; The Bill star, Bruce Bryon, and WBO World Cruiserweight boxing champion, Enzo Maccarinelli.
· a campaign microsite, launched on 3 January, which offers a range of ways for people to make a difference. This ranges from buying a present of a ‘BHF virtual gift’, donating one hour of a BHF Heart Nurse’s time, or finding out how to order fundraising materials.
· from January 14th, for a suggested donation of £1, members of the public can post a Love Note in the window of their local BHF shop and show the whole world how they feel.
· corporate partners include Love Heart jewellery collection from Hearts & Crosses; limited edition hot pink George Foreman Grills; and a range of Hallmark Valentine cards on sale from The Co-operative. Other companies lending their support include Red Letter Days and Thresher Group.
· the BHF Online Shop is offering a range of Valentine gifts including amusing mugs, eye-catching photo frames and pampering products.
· individuals, businesses and groups can get involved in community fundraising by ordering a free romantic film themed sweepstake poster and asking friends and colleagues to donate £1 to take part. People can also hold their own Valentine event and donate funds raised to the charity.
· a direct mail campaign to around 200,000 donors in February will ask them to support the appeal.
www.bhf.org.uk/valentine
About Howard Lake
Howard Lake is consultant editor of UK Fundraising. He founded the site in 1994 and successfully sold it in 2022. As director of Giving X Ltd he is exploring growing giving on a massive scale.
He is the founder of Fundraising Camp and co-founder of GoodJobs.