Limerick natives take home Brave Hearts Awards for healthcare and fundraising

LIMERICK natives have taken home two of the prestigious Brave Hearts Awards for their work in healthcare and fundraising.

The Brave Hearts Awards Lunch is organised by Heart Children, the national organisation that provides lifelong support to people born with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Broadcaster Miriam O’Callaghan, was MC for the ceremony, which took place in Dublin on Saturday, September 13. 

The event recognised people with CHD, the healthcare professionals who care for them and other supporters across twelve different categories. 

It highlighted stories of infants, children, and adults who have “battled against the odds since birth” to survive this lifelong condition.

Advanced nurse practitioner Rhona Savage, from North Circular Road, Limerick, received an award for the “professional and compassionate” care she provides to adults living with congenital heart disease in the Adult CHD Unit, Mater Hospital.

She was nominated for the award by patient Miriam Bridgeman, who says, “Rhona is a constant support to all adults with CHD. Through my own experience of the condition and my history of strokes, she has encouraged me to live life to the fullest, whilst encouraging self-care.”

Amanda and Shane Brodie, from Mungretgate, Limerick, received the Fundraising Excellence award.

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For the last ten years, Shane and Amanda have run the annual National Powerlifting Charity Championship in Southside Barbell Gym, which they own, as a fundraiser to give back after the birth of their son, Alex, who was born with CHD.

In this time, they have raised an incredible €78,862 for Heart Children’s support services. 

Speaking at the Brave Hearts Awards Lunch, Sheila Campbell, CEO, Heart Children, said: “Representation is huge when you are living with an invisible disability such as CHD. 

“Many people will be unaware that twice as many children with CHD will be born this year as receive a diagnosis of childhood cancer. Yet so little is known about the condition compared to the general level of knowledge that exists about cancer,” Ms Campbell continued.

She added: “We need to refresh the narrative and develop greater awareness of CHD and its impact on the over 20,000 people living in Ireland with the condition. 

“The Brave Heart Awards aims to shine a light on the personal stories of some incredibly brave and resilient people in Ireland’s CHD community.”