Board Member Dr Brian Craig shares his volunteer story with us.
Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
I am a retired hospital consultant and my specialty was paediatric cardiology where I had the privilege of caring for infants, children, teenagers and young adults with congenital or acquired heart disease.
Why did you volunteer for Children’s Heartbeat Trust?
I have been a strong supporter of Children’s Heartbeat Trust (formerly Heartbeat) since it was formed by parents in 1984.
I was honoured to have been asked to become a Trustee of the charity and subsequently a member of the Board of Directors.
My decision to get involved was based on my admiration for families of children with heart disease and a desire to support them in any way possible.
What do you enjoy about volunteering?
I really enjoy volunteering for CHT as I can increasingly see the very practical and tangible ways in which heart families are supported and encouraged by the wonderful and dedicated staff who are employed by CHT. I also enjoy being a member of a Trust Board who are passionate about the work of the charity and who bring a wide range of skills and experience to their task.
What has been the most memorable moment for you since getting involved with Children’s Heartbeat Trust?
One of the most memorable moments since I have been involved with CHT was how the charity was able to advance the views of the parents and families during the debate on the future of cardiac surgery in children. As a result of the voice of the parents being heard, the future of cardiac surgery for children was secured on the island of Ireland in Dublin, and the future of cardiology for children secured in Belfast.
What are you looking forward to as a volunteer?
I am Chair of the charity’s Research subgroup and as the charity expands, there is the exciting opportunity to become increasingly involved in innovative research in collaboration with our families, the clinical teams, university departments and other stakeholders.
