The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) has launched the innovative awareness campaign in March called "I Love This" - it has been extended up to the end of April.

Celebs out in force to rally SA public around heart health and honour those lost to heart disease and stroke

Millions of South Africans have lost loves ones due to heart disease and stroke, and there are many stories too of people who have survived and gone on to change their own and the lives of others. A new campaign is creating a platform to share our stories and help save lives.

Some love him and some hate him – Gareth Cliff, one of SA’s most well known and controversial radio and TV personalities, is never shy of voicing his opinion on any issue. This month, however, he’ll be using his voice to call on all South Africans to join in the fight against some of our leading killers, heart disease and stroke.

Gareth joins the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA in its new awareness campaign, speaking out on how SA can turn the tide on the number one non-infectious killers in South Africa.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) has launched the innovative awareness campaign this month called "I Love This" – it is one of the biggest heart and stroke awareness campaigns launched in the country yet and aims to raise funds for the Foundation’s free national community programmes, support research and save lives. Considering 80% of deaths, pain and suffering caused by heart disease and stroke are lifestyle-related and hence preventable, the HSFSA and Gareth are calling on SA to prevent the preventable.

Millions of South Africans have lost loves ones due to heart disease and stroke, and there are many stories too of people who have survived and gone on to change their own and the lives of others. Through online platforms like Facebook, the Foundation is inviting the public to share our stories and honour those we have lost to heart disease or stroke.

Gareth said that this is one issue he really feels strongly about in South Africa.

“I'm always going on about fat people – some fat people think I hate them. I don't. If it’s not due to medical reasons then I can't believe what people are doing to themselves – I've decided to do something instead of just talk and I've accepted an invitation from the Stroke and HSFSA to become an ambassador of the Foundation. I discovered that heart problems – globally – are THE leading cause of death. In South Africa, heart disease is on a dramatic rise – more South Africans die of heart problems and stroke than of all the cancers combined. This disease does not discriminate, not by race, culture, or wealth,” he said.

“So why do I get upset about it? – because I give a damn about our nation's health,” he added.

“It's the same reason I got angry with government – not because I hate them but because I care about where we're going. Being overweight and obese is one of the biggest risks to your heart, so I'm going to be talking about this – even if it makes fat people uncomfortable. I'll be helping the Heart and Stroke Foundation to save lives – and maybe your life or someone close to yours will be saved.”

Through the “I Love This” campaign the HSFSA is encouraging all South Africans to take responsibility for the heart health of those they love and of themselves. By placing the sticker they will make a pledge from that day on to love, cherish and protect their loved ones from future pain and suffering. 

The South African public can buy the campaign’s “I Love This” stickers at Clicks stores around the country throughout the month of March. Each sticker costs R5 – members of the public can then place their sticker on something they really love, take a picture, and upload it on the campaign’s Facebook site, email or MMS to stand a chance to win a R10 000 experience of their choice.

Cliff has been joined by a number of other celebrities, including Mark Pilgrim, L’loyd Cele, Simba Mhere, Saskia Falken, Jo-Ann Strauss and Michelle Garforth-Venter, to show us who they pledge to love and protect, and to support the HSFSA in its drive to save lives.

Find out more on the campaign, share your story and enter the competitions visit www.facebook.com/ilovethis.sa or go to http://www.ilovethis.co.za/.

Mark Pilgrim:
The ‘I Love This’ campaign is vital in creating awareness of heart disease. People always think that ill-health won't happen to them. But I am living proof that as a healthy fit man, it can happen to anyone. I had a heart attack in 2008 and survived because I happened to be in my doctor's office when it happened. Appreciate what you have. Appreciate your family and loved ones. Appreciate your heart.

Saskia Falken:
If something is precious or important to you, you don’t take it for granted or neglect it. The same should go for your health, I think it’s a great campaign because I know a lot of people who believe they should be healthier, but need reminding. So this campaign might just be the motivator they need.
I think that we do not pay enough attention to our hearts and we don’t realise that what we eat today will effect in the future. Living healthy now could prevent all kinds of illnesses five or ten years from now. People must realise that our individual health becomes the health of our nation.

Michelle Garforth-Venter:
I am extremely proud to be part of the I Love This campaign as there is nothing more important than to take care of your heart, body and mind. I believe the campaign promotes this perfectly. I think the first step is to evaluate your mind-set and know why you want to live a healthier lifestyle and be honest about it.

Jo-Anne Strauss:
I think the I Love This campaign is fantastic and I’m honoured to be part of it. Health is the new wealth. We focus on earning a living and material things so much, but at what cost?! If we want to have a balanced life and enjoy life, we have to realise that our health is the biggest gift and privilege and it’s our duty to maintain it.

Article provided by The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA