Pictured: Diane Maclean, the sculptor of 'Stranded Heart'
with (l - r), Steve O'Connor, Director of Development at University
of Leicester, Mr Bhikhu Hindocha, a volunteer member of the
University of Leicester development board, Professor Nilesh Samani,
British Heart Foundation chair of cardiology at Glenfield hospital,
Jo Tallack, General Manager at Highcross Leicester, Alan 'The
Birch' Birchenhall, and Cardiovascular patient and volunteer member
of the University of Leicester development board Michael
Turnbull
An iconic sculpture symbolising the on-going work to build a
brand new Cardiovascular Research Centre (CRC) in Leicester has
been officially unveiled to the public at Highcross.
'Stranded Heart' comes to Highcross as the University of
Leicester launches the public phase of an appeal to raise the final
£1million required to complete and equip a brand new
Cardiovascular Research Centre at Glenfield Hospital. The new
state-of-the-art £12.6 million research centre will impact
radically on both the scale and quality of research and treatment
of cardiovascular disease all over the UK.
The sculpture - by artist Diane Maclean - was kindly donated to
the university by a supporter of the appeal to symbolise the
pioneering work that will be conducted by the University's world
leading researchers in the CRC. Stranded Heart will remain at
Highcross until moving to its permanent home at the CRC.
Jo Tallack, General Manager at Highcross said: "We're thrilled
to be able to house the Stranded Heart sculpture at Highcross. It's
a real honour to be a part of such a worthwhile appeal and to work
with the University of Leicester in this way.
"For much of the community, Highcross is considered to be the
heart of Leicester, so it seemed natural to house the sculpture
here in such a prominent location and raise awareness of the
life-saving work supported by the CRC."
Ave Vinick, from the University of Leicester, said: "Pioneering
research that benefits the local community is at the core of our
mission and it is therefore appropriate that our appeal has a place
in the very heart of Leicester where it can be seen and supported
by local people.
"We have been greatly encouraged by the generous support we have
received to date from local trusts, community groups and
organisations and most notably from the British Heart Foundation,
who have made a multimillion pound investment in this flagship
project for the city and county.
"The CRC will double the amount of high quality laboratory and
academic space that will be essential in realising the University's
bold and novel research vision and will ultimately benefit
the many thousands of patients and families whose lives have been
affected by cardiovascular disease."