Last updated at 16:56, Friday, 04 January 2013

WHILE bank accounts and life savings tend to come hand-in-hand, one building society scheme has helped provide a life-saver of a different kind, by raising nearly £10,000 for a vital new piece of hospital equipment.

CASH BOOST: Furness Building Society partnerships and affinities manager Ian Quayle (right) presents the annual affinity account partnership cheque for £9,353.57 to British Heart Foundation Barrow and Furness branch chairman Ray Short (left) and area volunteer and fundraising manager Stephen Layden. They are joined by British Heart Foundation mascot Mr Hearty SUBMITTED

Furness General Hospital is set to become home to a state-of-the-art echocardiogram, a scanner used to diagnose and treat heart conditions.

The £35,000 piece of equipment is essential for use on newborn babies and young children, as it is the least invasive tool of its kind.

The British Heart Foundation Barrow and Furness branch spent all last year raising funds for the machine, and were given a huge boost when they received £9,353.57 from Furness Building Society’s affinity account scheme.

The cheque has been added to the £9,950 raised by the annual Barrow and Walney sponsored BHF walk, £10,000 donated by the hospital’s charities and other funds raised by the Barrow branch.

It was presented to the charity at a prize-giving for last year’s walk.

Ian Quayle, Furness Building Society’s partnerships and affinities manager, said: “We are delighted that the money raised by the affinity account partnership with the BHF will be used for such a worthwhile purchase, and it was heartening to see so many people who had stepped out on the sponsored walk.”

Furness Building Society’s affinity scheme sees it working with more than 20 different charities, and last year raised more than £360,000.

Charity supporters are invited to open savings accounts and The Furness makes an annual payment to each organisation from its own funds, based on the total deposits.

Ray Short BHF Barrow and Furness branch chairman, said: “Supporters can help our charity without it costing them a penny.

“ We hope that more of our supporters will see this as an easy way to raise additional money by simply saving in a British Heart Foundation account with The Furness.

“The more supporters save, the bigger the annual payment from the society.”

First published at 16:13, Friday, 04 January 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk