Heart Awareness
February 2024 Is… as most of you will know, a very important month include.
Remember this? You learned this at primary school! After waiting for three years, February ages by a day and has 29 days instead of the normal 28. This 366th day is added to keep the calendar year synchronised with the astronomical or seasonal year.
Also, of course, February is notable because of St Valentine’s Day, a day when lovers can express their feelings with cards, gifts and flowers in the traditional colours. Cards will be decorated with hearts, lovebirds or doves; a gift, if you live in Wales, may be a handcrafted spoon and flowers are often dark pink or red roses.
This year the colour red is being used to promote National Heart Awareness Month. There are 2.6 million people living in the UK with Coronary Heart Disease. (www.healthassured.org) This site puts the emphasis on fighting heart disease by eating a sound balanced diet and exercising regularly.
The British Heart Foundation is appealing for funds this month to raise money for heart disease research and promote Heart Awareness month, especially into those conditions which are not just due to bad eating and exercising habits.
They put forward the following suggestions for raising funds for this good cause: a “dress in red day” at work; a “dress in red” coffee morning or afternoon tea with red snacks; a ‘Red Quiz’ (all the answers have a red connection); a ‘Red Fancy Dress Party’ with a prize for the best dressed “Red ??”and lastly, go big and have a ‘Red Ball with a Red Band!’(www.bhf.org.uk)
Sounds fun and something lively to do in a month which can be quite depressing despite the early signs of spring.
Remember also, this is the year you can leap into action and propose to your loved one. Take them by surprise, why don’t you? The Kibworth & District Chronicle loves printing wedding photos and we haven’t had any in such a long time!
(Heartfelt sigh).
The King’s Physician
