CREW History
and Overview
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The people who were instrumental in the formation of CREW Heart
Support Group were all initially Cardiac Rehabilitation Patients, many
of them from the late 1980’s and heart attack victims with a proportion
of bi-passes from the mid 1990’s. |
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We started our group in response to our (now) President’s idea that we
should start a walking group. This was so successful that we
incorporated this into the exercise sessions, at North Bridge Leisure
Centre, Halifax.
In late 1999 following funding and planned resource cut backs, we
decided to formalise our own voluntary constituted group and affiliate
to the British Heart Foundation as an accredited Heart Support Group.
In 2000/01 CREW was formed with an elected Officer base and executive
committee of most of those that backed the initiative in the first
place. A member thought of our name CREW which is
Cardiac
Rehabilitation
through
Exercise
and
Walking.
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From a start base of 47
members in our first year, 384 in 2009, we now have over 650 members
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We started our second group at Brighouse in October 2006. Brighouse is
now a stand alone Heart Support Group called Heartbeat |
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In 2008 we opened our third location, Todmorden at the Sports Centre.
The official opening on 23 October 2008 by Deputy Mayor, David O’Neil.
We have now extended our exercise classes to include the Fielden Centre
Our message has gone far and wide through Parliament via our patrons
Chris McCafferty, (retired MP), and current MP Craig Whittaker, in Calderdale via our patronage from the
hospital cardiologists Tim Bloomer and Simon Grant plus patron for the
Todmorden area Dr Dinesh Kumar.
The partnerships we have with voluntary organisations, Calderdale PCT
and Council Leisure Services has enabled the growth of the work
undertaken to benefit people who have suffered some trauma based on
cardiovascular problems. Plus diabetic patients are included due to the
at risk nature of future cardiac problems. |
Not to forget those who were the pioneers of the concept along with
those people who unstintingly give time , effort and expertise, to the
present organisation of our Heart Support Group. |
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A famous
author
wrote:
“Life is a
Journey, not
a
destination.”
CREW hope
that people
who have
suffered the
trauma of
some kind of
Heart
related
illness,
will rekindle or re-learn to enjoy the journey. We have!
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