Meadowhall is celebrating World Heart Day (Sunday 29th September) by recognising the 34,000 people that have become part of Yorkshire history and engraved their names on to a 2.4-meter-high steel heart, in aid of the British Heart Foundation.
As a leading supporter of the Yorkshire community, Meadowhall is lighting its iconic dome red to show thanks to those that have donated to the project so far.
To date, the Heart of Steel has raised over £500,000. The money is helping to fund ground-breaking research into new treatments and cures for heart and circulatory diseases, including heart disease, stroke, vascular dementia and risk factors such as diabetes.
The 1,138kg super alloy sculpture is located in prime position on Meadowhall’s Park Lane. Its home in Meadowhall is particularly poignant as it represents the city’s long heritage of the steel industry as well as the new technologies and specialised manufacturing that are redefining South Yorkshire.
Darren Pearce, Centre Director for Meadowhall, said: “We have operated at the heart of the Yorkshire community for nearly 30 years and it is a privilege to provide a home for the Heart of Steel on our mall. The heart has struck a chord and resonated with so many people, and we have been bowled over by the amount that it has raised for the British Heart Foundation since its installation last summer.”
Camilla Shelley, Fundraising Manager at the British Heart Foundation said: “The people of Yorkshire are known for their friendly dispositions and big hearts and since Meadowhall provided a loving home for the Heart of Steel, the sculpture has raised a monumental £540,000 for the BHF! We hope that over time the Heart of Steel will become an iconic British emblem: honouring those living with heart disease and celebrating the phenomenal progress that has been made since the BHF was founded in 1961. With each new engraving we’re able to fund even more vital research to improve the lives of people living with heart and circulatory diseases across the U.K.”
A fifth of the heart has been engraved to date, with space for up to 150,000 names. Supporters can add their name, or the name of a loved one, for a donation of £20.
