CALA Homes (North) has donated £990 to cover the cost of a Cardiac Science Powerheart G3 defibrillator for GCRA Ltd’s weekly cardiac prevention and rehab exercise classes.
The organisation runs 35 weekly classes in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. The classes are attended by locals who have suffered heart attacks or other cardiac conditions and aim to help them return to work and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.
GCRA Ltd (formerly Grampian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association) was awarded the sum as part of the housebuilder’s £10,000 community bursary scheme which was launched last year to mark 140 years since the company was established as the City of Aberdeen Land Association.
The group was established in 2002 after cardiac rehabilitation exercise classes were no longer funded for by the NHS. GCRA has approximately 700 members who benefit from the classes.
Steve Jarvie, construction director at CALA Homes (North), visited a GCRA exercise class at the Robert Gordon University Sport Building to present the cheque to the organisation. GCRA is required to have a defibrillator present at every one of its classes in the area.
Steve said: “It was a pleasure to see one of GCRA’s cardiac prevention and rehab exercise classes in action and meet some of the attendees who have benefitted from the sessions with its knowledgeable instructors.”
Bert Hosie, Secretary at GCRA Ltd, said: “We are now extending the range of health conditions our classes are beneficial for to include long-term conditions such as asthma, COPD, osteoporosis, and strokes. In order to achieve this, we have trained five new instructors and plan to create an additional ten classes in the area.
“We are required to provide each of our instructors with a defibrillator and ensure that they receive regular training in how to use it in an emergency. CALA’s donation will help us to provide one of our new instructors with this important kit.”
The CALA Homes (North) community bursary will support 12 different charities and community groups across Aberdeen and the surrounding area this year by funding vital equipment and services. Beneficiaries include Grampian MS Therapy Centre, Grampian Deaf Children's Society, Woodside Junior Club, and Maggie’s Aberdeen.