A dedicated employee of a Southampton-based charity, who played a pivotal role in helping to raise more than £20 million to support cardiac care and education, is celebrating 25 years’ service.
Since joining cardiac charity Heartbeat in 2000 as Heartbeat Suite Manager, Tina Richardson, has staged spectacular fundraisers including Heartbeat’s annual Cycle Sportive. More recently, Tina was the power behind its 30th Anniversary Show at the Mayflower: Musicals from the Heart, which raised £37,000.
Her long career with Heartbeat includes several firsts. One of the outstanding highlights was helping to assist with the organisation of the first live surgery link between cardiac centres at University Hospital Southampton and the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, now the Lurie Children’s Hospital, in June 2000.
As well as raising funds through her connections as a Rotarian, Tina has been involved with many of the charity’s major campaigns, including its High 5 Appeal, 3D Heart Appeal and Cardiac Youth Worker funding, among many other ground-breaking projects.
Tina is no stranger to royalty, having attended Buckingham Palace on more than one occasion, as well as welcoming visits to Heartbeat from HRH The Duchess of Edinburgh.
As a member of the organisational team for the HEC (Heartbeat Education Centre), Tina assisted in its creation to provide this important educational facility for healthcare professionals at the Wessex Cardiac Unit.
Today, as Heartbeat’s Head of Operations, Tina has helped to raise more than £20 million over her career with the charity, something which Heartbeat CEO, Mark Ind, says is a remarkable achievement.
“Tina is such a fabulous person to work with and I’m simply in awe of what she’s achieved for us over the last quarter century.” He said. “Her sunny personality and dedication to helping people with cardiac disease make her the ideal colleague. I’m so lucky to have worked with her over the years and I know our entire team joins me in wishing her a very happy 25th anniversary at Heartbeat.”
