SUFFOLK FA have partnered with the British Heart Foundation for the 2023-24 season.

The partnership will see Suffolk FA raise money to support the charity’s research into heart and circulatory conditions during the course of the forthcoming season, with clubs encouraged to follow suit.

This includes raising funds at the pre-season Suffolk FA Champions Charity Cup and Shield matches on behalf of the BHF, rather than for charities chosen by the clubs as in the previous two years.

A total of £687 was raised through tickets sales and a bucket collection at last week’s Champions Charity Cup match between Needham Market and Framlingham Town at Bloomfields.

100% of all tickets purchased for that match and the forthcoming Champions Charity Shield fixture between AFC Kesgrave and Coddenham Athletic at Bloomfields on Friday, August 18th, kick-off 7.30pm are going directly to the BHF.

A total of £973.86 has already been raised for the charity which includes the auction of match balls at the Suffolk Youth Cup Finals in May and BHF bucket collections made at both the Suffolk FA Grassroots Festival in May and last week’s Champions Charity Cup tie.

As part of the initiative the BHF will run five free CPR sessions to Suffolk clubs on a first come, first served basis.

The BHF will ask for a suggested £50 donation from the club for any additional sessions that are delivered during the season to cover travel costs.

The partnership follows on from work the Suffolk FA did with the BHF last year to promote knowledge of CPR.

Footballers and supporters across the region were encouraged to learn the lifesaving skill using the charity’s RevivR app, which enables people to learn CPR in just 15 minutes using just their mobile phone and a cushion.

Karl Coppack, who is BHF Fundraising Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk, delivered training to the players and staff of Borussia Martlesham.

The Ipswich Sunday Football League side lost a player to a condition called myocarditis, which is an inflammation of the heart muscle usually following a virus.

According to Myocarditis UK, one young person dies suddenly each week in the UK due to undiagnosed myocarditis.

Joe Langfield was just 27 when he collapsed and died in June 2021. A keen sportsman, Joe also played senior football for Woodbridge Town, Debenham LC and Crane Sports.

The money raised by Suffolk FA will help the BHF fund vital research into heart and circulatory conditions like heart attacks, stroke and myocarditis.

Ipswich Town FC mascot Bluey demonstrates how to administer CPR at the Suffolk FA Grassroots Festival held at Kesgrave High School in May of this year. Mai photograph: Karl Coppack, who is BHF Fundraising Manager for Norfolk and Suffolk, pictured alongside the Suffolk Champions Charity Cup which he presented to the winning Needham Market team last week. Photograph: Paul Voller

Karl said of the partnership: “We’re immensely grateful to the Suffolk FA for working with us to raise both funds and awareness for our work.

“The money raised by this partnership will enable scientists to continue searching for new ways to prevent, treat and cure heart conditions and keep more families together for longer.”

Suffolk FA Marketing & Communications officer Nick Garnham said: “We are really proud to partner with the BHF and to know that the funds we raise will help the charity fund lifesaving research.

“The partnership builds on the work we have already done with the BHF to promote CPR, and we look forward to raising as much money as we can for such a worthwhile cause.

“Even if your club is not one of those to benefit from a free CPR session, we encourage you to take part in such a session as you never know when the skills you learn could help save a life.

“We are also hoping that clubs who wish to support a good cause and don’t have one in mind, choose to raise funds for the BHF during the forthcoming campaign.”

To be one of the five Suffolk clubs to receive a free CPR session on a first come, first served basis, please email coppackk@bhf.org.uk