Wil’s Blog – Looking Back at International Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week 2024

As I reflect on last week’s International Heart Valve Disease Awareness Week, I am both humbled and inspired by what we have achieved together. Our collective passion for raising awareness of heart valve disease shone through in every aspect of this year’s campaign, and the results have been nothing short of extraordinary.

One of the key milestones for Heart Valve Voice was the announcement of our new Women’s Clinical Advisory Group. This initiative will tackle the pressing issue of gender disparities in heart valve disease diagnosis and treatment. By ensuring that women’s voices are better heard, we are confident this group will drive meaningful change in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of women with heart valve disease. 

Our events in Edinburgh and Lancaster were a major highlight, offering free heart checks to the public and creating opportunities for important conversations about heart valve disease. Over the two events, we listened to over 300 hearts, with over 30 people found to have a previously undetected cardiac condition. Our volunteers took the time to explain heart valve disease to members of the public, its symptoms, and the importance of timely diagnosis. 

A special moment occurred when a gentleman, while shopping near one of the events, visited the truck and was found to have a heart murmur. He later went home and asked his wife to come along for a heart check, and she, too, was found to have a murmur. Both have since undergone echocardiograms and are now seeing a cardiologist after aortic stenosis was detected. The events not only raised awareness but also provided potentially life-saving stethoscope checks, perfectly illustrating our ‘Listen to your heart’ message.

In the digital world, we saw incredible social media activity that helped amplify our message to a vast audience. The conversations we started — combined with the brilliant work of our partners in the Global Heart Hub — reached millions of people across social media, online platforms, print, TV, and radio. The engagement we witnessed was incredible, with individuals from all walks of life contributing to the discussion, sharing stories, and encouraging others to listen to their hearts.

I want to extend my deepest thanks to everyone who took part — whether you attended an event, shared your story, or helped spread the word on social media. Every contribution, no matter how small, played a critical role in the success of this campaign. The awareness raised last week will have a lasting impact, helping countless people better understand the symptoms and risks of heart valve disease.

A special thank you to all members of the Global Heart Hub for their remarkable campaigns. Your dedication and creativity continue to inspire and strengthen this global movement.