22 September 2008

Jeweller Stephen makes 'Gem' of a donation to TICR appeal

Photo opportunity - Tuesday September 23rd, 2.00 pm
Stephen Henderson The Jewellers
1 Union Street, Dundee
Stephen presents £1200 cheque to TICR

Dundee jeweller Stephen Henderson has made a 'gem' of a donation to local heart charity, the Tayside Institute for Cardiovascular Research.

Stephen, owner of the well-known local business, raised £1200 for TICR after taking part in the Etape Caledonia cycle race in Perthshire earlier this year.

He was moved to take on the challenge to raise money for the charity after a health scare close to home.

'My wife Donia had a heart scare and after she had been looked after so well in Ninewells Hospital I wanted to do something to support the work they are doing there,' said Stephen.

'It was then I came across TICR and the research that is being led there. It is a fantastic project and I was determined to do something for them.'

Stephen, who has always enjoyed cycling, decided to take on the challenge of the Etape race.

'This was a personal challenge for me,' he said. 'The Etape is 81 miles around Perthshire, and with around 6000ft of climbs around the course it is a real test.'

'I had never cycled that distance before, so serious training to get ready for it began in February. I set my goal for 5 hours, and my actual time on the day was 5 hrs 1minute. I enjoyed it so much, I've signed up for next year and the goal for then is to shave an hour off the time.'

Stephen Henderson will present a cheque for £1200 to Mrs Shobna Vasishta, Chair of the TICR appeal, at the Union Street shop on Tuesday September 23rd.

'This has been a wonderful effort by Stephen and one which is really appreciated by everyone at TICR,' said Shobna. 'All the money we receive is providing a real boost to research into cardiovascular disease, being led by some world-class researchers here in Dundee.'

TICR was launched in 2003 by the charity’s patron Lorraine Kelly. Since then it has raised over £6.5m for Cardiovascular Research. Prof Jill Belch, Head of the Institute, said 'This is a wonderful gesture and all of us in the Institute are very grateful to Stephen. Cardiovascular Disease is the major killer here in Tayside and without folk like Stephen fighting this disease would be so much harder.'

For media enquiries contact:
Roddy Isles
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University of Dundee
Nethergate Dundee, DD1 4HN
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E-MAIL: r.isles@dundee.ac.uk