I have never written to a newspaper before, but I feel very strongly about the closure of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Andover as presented in the Andover Advertiser dated 14th July 2023 and request my comments be published.

As a volunteer at the BHF store Andover, I have been overwhelmed by the generosity of local people donating their pre-loved items. Often it is in honour of someone they know having been touched by heart disease and who is advocating for the advancement of research in this field.

A close family friend of mine has eight-year-old twin boys, a year ago one of them was given the gift of a new heart and he is doing very well.

READ MORE: British Heart Foundation shop in Andover to close

This store has been invaluable for young people starting out and needing affordable furniture; elderly people downsizing and needing more appropriate furniture – and everyone in between. Many people have expressed their shock and disappointment about the closure of this store.

Surely, with the regeneration of Andover, new properties being built and many empty shops, the council could make an offer of a building to the BHF that they cannot refuse. We need the dedicated staff of the BHF to be able to continue the vital work in respect of raising funds for research into heart disease and serving the local people with affordable furniture.

Val Carnegie

Corunna Main

Andover

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