Helping Heart Failure Survivors In Essex

4 February 2011, 00:00 | Updated: 16 February 2011, 14:21

Around two thousand people a year die from coronary heart disease in Essex each year, but thousands more live with the condition.

There's currently no cure and it's the UK's biggest cause of disability, so the British Heart Foundation's started it's biggest ever campaign, to help fund new research to find a way to fix broken hearts.

The 'Mending Broken Hearts' appeal needs to raise £50m to spend on stem cell research and regenerative medicine to help more than 750,00 people suffering with the condition.

Trevor Fernandes from Maldon is a heart patient. He had his first heart attack aged 47 and a second, 4 years ago.

"It touches everything around you, your family, your friends, everything you do and generally your whole life.

"The second heart I had did a lot more damage and my heart is now only 25% effeicient.

"I used to work long hours, I had a very stressful job, didn't have a particularly good diet or much sleep, as many people do. 

"The Mending Broken Hearts appeal will mean everything to me. It'll basically bring my life back again and give me something to plan for."