For most new mums, life after having a baby brings big changes and new challenges but for Claire Toner, 40 from Clady, never in her wildest dreams did she think it would also mean having to deal with the news she had a life changing long-term condition, heart failure.

When Amy Smyth and Sharon Hughes-Magill were given the news they had heart failure, their lives as they knew them changed in an instant. This week marks World Heart Day (29th September), and Amy and Sharon are sharing their stories in support of Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s (NICHS) current heart failure awareness campaign.

We are holding collection days in Tesco stores across Northern Ireland on World Stroke Day and are hoping to raise £10,000, but we need volunteer donation collectors to help us reach this ambitious target.

Local health charity, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke, has welcomed the publication by Mike Nesbitt, the Health Minister, of a consultation document about hospital changes.

Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS) has recently launched a new heart failure awareness campaign which aims to educate the public about the condition, its symptoms, and encourages people to seek medical advice if they are experiencing any of the signs of heart failure, due to the fact it can have more serious outcomes than a number of cancers.

We currently have £1.2 million invested in live research, and last year, your donations made it possible for us to fund four new studies looking at improving stroke recovery, establishing new treatments for respiratory illness, and supporting families affected by Congenital Heart Disease.