Rangers Charity Foundation – The NEN

Rangers Women’s Players learn CPR with the British Heart Foundation

It took just 15 minutes for Victoria Esson, Libby Bance, and Sarah Ewens to learn CPR using the British Heart Foundation’s free online RevivR training tool.

Rangers Charity Foundation has partnered with British Heart Foundation and pledged to raise £25,000 and to encourage as many people as possible to learn CPR.

For Victoria Esson, 32, the New Zealand-born goalkeeper who joined Rangers in 2022, it is a particularly personal cause as she was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, a condition which causes the heart to beat abnormally fast.

“It can beat up to 200-300 BMP and in the worst-case scenario, it can lead to a heart attack,” she explains.

“I could feel it happening, but I didn’t know any different as I’d always had them as a kid. When you say to someone my heart is beating fast, it doesn’t always flag up an issue. I remember trying to explain that I’ve got a stitch in my heart, but I didn’t really know how to explain it as a child.

“It was picked up at some pre-World Cup screening back in 2010, so I was lucky. It made sense and became clear when they identified it, and I finally knew.

“It was told it was inherited but no-one else in the family had it. I had surgery within a couple of days and again six months later, and I’m all clear now.”

Victoria believes that learning CPR is a vital lifesaving tool that everyone should know: “You may need it when you are least expecting it.

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Above: Victoria Esson

“It’s not something that you can plan for, whether it’s a loved one or a family or a friend or just a person that is sitting beside you in the stand here at Ibrox – it could save someone’s life.”

Libby Bance, 20, who joined the team in September 2023 on loan from Brighton, agreed: “My grandad had a heart attack a few years ago. You hope you never have to use CPR but I’m glad I know how to do it should I ever have to. I like to think I could help someone now. Knowing how to do it is important.

“It only took 15 minutes and that can give someone their whole entire life back, so it’s definitely worth it.”

Striker Sarah Ewens, 31, also welcomed the chance to learn the vital skills: “Before today I would not have had the confidence, but the training means I’d now definitely step in and help someone if they needed it.”

Over 700,000 people in Scotland have heart and circulatory diseases, which also cause the deaths of nearly 50 people in Scotland every day.

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L-R Sarah Ewens, Libby Bance, Victoria Esson

Less than 1 in 10 people will survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest and performing the emergency lifesaving procedure can more than double their chance of survival.

RevivR allows people to learn CPR in just 15 minutes and aims to give people the skills and confidence to save a life. It teaches people how to recognise a cardiac arrest, gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps in using a defibrillator. All people need is a mobile phone and a firm cushion.

David McColgan, head of BHF Scotland, said: “Heart and circulatory diseases are some of Scotland’s biggest killers and we hope this partnership will help us raise awareness in Scotland’s footballing community about the importance of looking after your heart health, while also enabling more people to learn lifesaving CPR skills.”

It couldn’t be simpler – you just need your mobile phone or tablet and a cushion to practise on.

You can access RevivR here – revivr.bhf.org.uk/

Rangers footballer Connor Goldson talks about his heart operation

Rangers footballer Connor Goldson marks the partnership between Rangers Charity Foundation and the British Heart Foundation by talking about his own heart condition, and he urges the public to support the medical research charity this Christmas by learning learn vital CPR skills. 

Footballer Connor Goldson has a tattoo across his chest with the words ‘Chase your Dreams’, which is dissected by a large scar running through the middle, marking a defining moment in his life. 

Aged 24 he was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm – a swelling of the large artery which passes through the abdomen which was at risk of bursting with potentially catastrophic consequences – and had to undergo surgery to repair it. 

“I don’t see it anymore, it’s just part of me, part of my body,” he says. “It looks nice. I like it because it shows what I’ve been through. The only thing, obviously, with a scar, is when you are in the showers here people ask questions. I don’t mind talking about it now.” 

But it has taken the six years since the operation for the Rangers star to feel more comfortable talking about the life-threatening condition which could have ended far more than just his sporting career. 

When Rangers announced the British Heart Foundation as its new charity partner for the 2023/24 season, Connor felt the time was right to talk about his heart condition. 

“Truthfully, I’ve never really spoken about it openly because it was a difficult time, but I also felt fortunate that I was able to continue playing, so I’ve never really wanted sympathy,” he says. 

“Obviously going back to it, it was tough.  My wife, Kayleigh, who was my girlfriend back then, always tells me that I need to speak about it, but I find it difficult.” 

After-training showers have prompted many chats: “When new players see the scar on my chest there’s always a big reaction straight away.  I was so fortunate; I was out for like 3 to 4 months and have never had a problem since,” he says. 

“I see people in football who have knee operations or ankle operations, or broken legs, that are out for a lot longer., Of course, when you do your knee it’s not life threatening, the risk of mine, well I was obviously going to die …” 

Specialists consider surgery when the aorta route is 50mm diameter and at Connor’s first scan his was 49mm and 50mm at the second. 

“Basically, if I wanted play football, I had to have it done, there was no ifs or buts,” he says. 

“I could have stopped playing right then, and it was my decision, but if I wanted to continue playing, I had to get it done. The surgeon said they had to fit a stent because it could have popped at any point.” 

There were risks associated with the surgery, but these were outweighed by the risks of not having the surgery – although Connor says his only thought back then was getting back to the game. 

“Nothing else mattered and all I really cared about was whether I could play football again,” he admits. 

Young and fit, Connor bounced back from the operation on 30 March, and was back in preseason just four months later, in July. 

“But a lot has changed since then. I got married and now I have two children, and they are the highlights for me. Looking back, football was my priority and I still love the game and I love what I do and want to continue doing it for many years, but now that I have a family and children, they are the most important things.” 

Connor, now 30, has the heart rates of both his children – Caleb, five, and Connor, who will be two in February – tattooed onto each wrist, taken from the baby scans before they were born. 

“It reflects what I’ve been through, and they mean everything to me. Instead of having their names, their heart rate seems a lot more appropriate,” he says. 

Every time he walks onto the pitch, he kisses both wrists and his wedding finger, which is also inked with the significant date from 2021. 

Connor’s condition was picked up in a random checkup scan and he believes, were he not an elite sportsperson, it would probably have remained undiagnosed. 

“To be fair I always half knew that I had something,” he admits. “My dad had a heart attack when he was younger while playing football with his friends, luckily, he’s still alive, then another when he was older.   

“Deep down I always knew there was something there. I remember I fainted a few times, if I got up too quickly or hadn’t eaten enough. That used to happen quite often but, on the pitch, I never felt anything.” 

Despite the trauma of the diagnosis, which reduced him to tears, and the operation soon afterwards, Connor says he feels no aftereffects. His annual check-up has been fine ever since, and he says he has been able to channel his heart scare in a positive way. 

He gets out his mobile phone and shows everyone the graphic picture of his heart in his wide-open chest during surgery. It’s an incredible image and an arresting reminder of exactly how the advances in medical research mean Connor is here to tell his story. 

He adds: “I feel very fortunate that I still get to do my day job, very fortunate that since the operation I’ve managed to have a family and I’ve got two healthy children, so I don’t feel that it has ever harmed me in a way that means trauma is still there. 

“I see it as quite a positive thing now that I’ve been fortunate to have gone though. It has made me appreciate everything that I have even more and has put life into perspective because I know it can end at any time.” 

Connor is thrilled that Rangers Charity Foundation have pledged to raise £25,000 for the British Heart Foundation over the course of the season and aims to encourage people as many fans as possible to learn lifesaving CPR via the charity’s free online training tool, RevivR. 

“The BHF do an amazing job and I’m happy to help in any way,” adds Connor. 

“We live in a world where nobody really does anything until it happens to you. It’s only when it happens to yourself or someone you know, then you realise the importance of CPR. 

“I can do CPR, maybe not perfectly but I know what to do.” 

When asked about his plans for Christmas, Connor smiles: “Football, football, football.” 

Training doesn’t pause on Christmas Day, but with two young children at home Connor says he’ll be up extra early to watch his boys open their presents and will be looking forward to getting back to them for a family day. 

“As I get older, I’m more able to reflect on situations and now feel like I can work as hard as I can and whatever happens in the game happens. I’ll watch the game back once and after that I go home and see the kids and be a dad – and that’s the most important thing to me.” 

To donate to the British Heart Foundation this festive season and give the gift that keeps on living, visit bhf.org.uk/Christmas 

Graeme Souness backs Rangers x BHF charity partnership

Graeme Souness urges Scotland football fans to look after their heart health as he backs British Heart Foundation Scotland as Rangers Charity Foundation’s new charity partner  

  Ahead of World Heart Day tomorrow (29 September), former Rangers player and manager, Graeme Souness, is urging Scottish football fans to look after their heart health as he backs British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland as the Rangers Charity Foundation’s new national charity partner.

The partnership will last for the 2023/24 season with the Foundation pledging to raise £25,000 for BHF Scotland.

It will also help raise awareness of heart and circulatory diseases – conditions which are some of the nation’s biggest killers, causing around 50 deaths each day, and are estimated to affect 700,000 people in Scotland.

David McColgan, Head of British Heart Foundation Scotland commented: “We’re delighted the Rangers Charity Foundation has chosen BHF Scotland as its national charity partner for the season.

“Heart and circulatory diseases are some of Scotland’s biggest killers and we hope this partnership will help us raise awareness in Scotland’s footballing community about the importance of looking after your heart health, while also enabling more people to learn lifesaving CPR skills and raise an incredible amount of money for the British Heart Foundation.”

Graeme Souness has personal experience of heart disease and understands first-hand how important the lifesaving research the BHF helps to fund is.

The football legend said: “I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease at 38 and had a triple bypass. When I was diagnosed, I was extremely fit. I never thought I’d be the type of person to get heart disease, but if it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone.

“Ten years later, I had a stent fitted as another one of my arteries had become blocked. Then in November 2015, I was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack at home.

“Thankfully, I’m now OK, but without the research the BHF has helped fund into heart and circulatory diseases, it could have been a different story.”

The charity partnership will also encourage at least 50,000 people – the capacity of Ibrox Stadium – to learn lifesaving CPR via the BHF’s free online tool, RevivR.

The Rangers Charity Foundation will be spreading the word about the RevivR app, which can be downloaded at www.rangerscharity.org.uk/Revivr, to supporters and the wider public throughout the season.

Rangers Charity Foundation Chief Executive Connal Cochrane added: “The work of the British Heart Foundation Scotland aligns closely with the Foundation’s strategic priorities in terms of health and well-being and education and we are delighted to be able to combine both these pillars in a project which will roll out life-saving skills to thousands of fans.

“Our donation this season will support the British Heart Foundation’s RevivR app which is a really simple, easy way to learn key skills in your own home which could save a life.

“We also look forward to working with the British Heart Foundation on a number of other initiatives over the course of the season, such as providing free blood pressure checks at some home games for fans and sharing important information about heart health and where to go for help and advice.”

For more information about the British Heart Foundation visit: bhf.org.uk or to find out more about the Rangers Charity Foundation visit: rangerscharity.org.uk

Stroke survivor David runs 22 marathons in 22 days

Ibrox to Anfield … and back again!

*Rangers fan Dave Smith is running from Glasgow to Liverpool and back again to raise funds for the Charity Foundation.*

Rangers fan and long-time friend and supporter of the Rangers Charity Foundation, David Smith, is running his own ‘550 challenge’ from Ibrox to Anfield and back as a tribute to the Rangers team and manager after winning their 55^th title.

David, 55, left Glasgow on 2nd June for the challenge of a lifetime running 22 marathons in 22 days, or over 550 miles, after suffering a stroke in December last year and losing his ability to read and write due to ‘aphasia’.

He is raising money for the Rangers Charity Foundation and the Stroke Association and is due to arrive back at Ibrox on 23 June at 2.30pm.

David said: “I had an Ischemic stroke on December 8 and after 24 hours of touch and go I survived – I knew I was going to be okay, but I couldn’t actually speak to tell the people around me.

“Three days later, I was up and walking about, running up and down the stairs. I was told I was supposed to be in for a month, but I was able to leave after 15 days.

“I believe my fitness pulled me through, I knew I had to have a plan to beat this stroke, I wanted to run it off.

“I’ve been lucky, but not everyone is the same so I’m doing this run in support of the Stroke Association, who do wonderful work for those less fortunate than myself.

“I’m also running for my usual charity, the Rangers Charity Foundation, who do a lot of work in the local community and help a number of different charities, including Unicef.

“Going to Liverpool and back is in tribute to Steven Gerrard who delivered the 55th league title and got me through my darkest days.”

Rangers Charity Foundation Fundraising Executive, David Henson, said: “David has been a supporter of the Foundation for many years, but this is the most extreme challenge he has taken on.

“We have been cheering David on every step of the way and are extremely grateful for the support which will allow us to continue our community and charity work. His positivity and resilience truly is inspirational.”

Angela MacLeod, Communications Manager at Stroke Association Scotland, commented: “Aphasia affects a third of stroke survivors. It can affect a person’s ability to speak, write and read.

“It can be devastating, affecting relationships, employment and accessing basic things in society. To think David only had his stroke in December is incredible. I’m sure his grit and determination, demonstrated through his taking part in this event, is leading to his amazing success.”