Next month the Isle of Wight Heart Care Club will celebrate its 25th Anniversary and Lyn Smith, from Whippingham – a founder member and the ‘heart’ of the Club – it celebrating a quarter of a century with the club having been involved since its creation back in 1991.
Over the years this totally self-funding organisation, which is affiliated to the British Heart Foundation, has twice been awarded the prestigious Government Awarded Charter Mark – in 1997 and again in 2000.
Lyn was one of two instructors originally asked by Diana Smith, a Keep Fit instructor, to provide ongoing support and help for heart attack patients who had completed a cardiac rehab programme within the Physiotherapy Department of St Mary’s Hospital. As a result, in February 1991, the Isle of Wight Heart Care Club was formed. The first ever class took place, with just one patient, three instructors and Sister Jenny Cox of the Coronary Care Unit, in the old boardroom at St Mary’s. Very quickly more patients were referred with varying cardiac problems necessitating the need for a medical expert. Dr. Matthew de Belder joined the team and because of the increasing number of clients the Club moved to the larger premises of the Riverside Centre, Newport in 1992.
In 1993, having identified the need for more equipment, Lyn created a follow-on class at the Fitness Factory owned by Steve Milton. Realising that Keep Fit qualifications were inadequate, she studied and passed the BACR exam, now known as the British Association of Coronary and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, which has to be validated every three years. There are now three dedicated instructors led by Lyn who take the 14 classes held in Newport, Ryde, Sandown and Freshwater – Lyn taking 12 of these. Their aim is to encourage, support and through exercise improve the fitness of the club members, now more than 300, whose ages range from the mid-forties to ninety. A referral from a doctor is required to become a member.
There is a continuing need for fund raising and over the years two Rowathons have been held at the Fitness Factory, a cycle ride around the Island and back by Gary Smith, Lyn’s husband, and most recently Steve Milton did a sponsored Sky Dive from Sandown Airport. Local Community groups have also supported the Club with generous donations. Though its Social Committee, the Club organises coach trips, Christmas lunches and fund raising events.
A Heart Support group, the first to be set up in the UK, was established in 2003 which enabled Club members to be trained by the NHS to give support and encouragement to heart attack patients and their families. This group remains active as mentors, called upon by the Coronary Care Unit to offer advice to those still in hospital.
Lyn’s continuing dedication, enthusiasm, energy, and caring for the Club’s members, suggests she will be there for the next quarter of a century.
Featured image: FreeImages.com/Valeri Moreiro
