Observing International Charity Day with the British Heart Foundation

Bag It. Beat It. – the British Heart Foundation’s annual drive to raise funds for vital research – was launched at BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, London on Saturday 6 September 2014 as part of the Mandir’s wider observance of the UN International Day of Charity.

The International Day of Charity is a United Nations initiative that was established with the objective of “sensitising and mobilising people, NGOs, and stakeholders all around the world to help others through volunteer and philanthropic activities.” It is observed every year on 5 September.

The overriding message of universal involvement is underlined by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon: “Charity plays a significant role in the work of the United Nations and its agencies. On this International Day, I call on people everywhere to act on the charitable impulse that resides in every human being – to start giving and to keep on giving.”

The launch of the Bag It. Beat It. drive was made at the Mandir by Mr Qaim Zaidi, Ethnic Strategy Coordinator for the British Heart Foundation (BHF), during a special evening assembly where a large number of worshippers and visitors had gathered. Organised by BAPS Charities, the campaign follows several previous collaborations with BHF, from the nationwide sponsored walk in 2007 to last year’s successful Great British Bag-athon Challenge, alongside the many on-going awareness and training sessions, most recently for the provision of emergency life support training.

The Bag It. Beat It. campaign has successfully taken place each year since 2009. Instead of requesting cash donations, this initiative collects bags filled with unwanted items that could raise £20 towards life-saving research – including research behind congenital heart disease which affects over 40,000 children of school age.

Dr Mayank Shah from BAPS Charities added: “BAPS Charities is delighted to continue the on-going partnership with the British Heart Foundation, building on the success of last year’s Bag-athon and previous events. The response from the congregation at the Mandir is very encouraging and the spirit of charity and service here makes it an ideal place to promote the great work of charities such as the British Heart Foundation.”

To learn more about Bag It. Beat It., the work of the British Heart Foundation, and the International Day of Charity, please follow the respective links.

Disclaimer: BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.
Images courtesy of the British Heart Foundation.