The Gen XY Lifestyle
Building a Nation of Lifesavers: SHF Marks 55 Years of Heart Health Advocacy
The Singapore Heart Foundation (SHF) has spent decades empowering the community with lifesaving skills and strengthening resilience in the face of medical emergencies. From its pioneering initiatives to its inspiring celebrations, SHF remains committed to its mission of reducing deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Lifesaving Skills: The Heart of SHF’s Vision
Resuscitation has been a cornerstone of SHF’s efforts since launching the Heart Safe Initiative in 2007. The programme has equipped thousands with essential skills like Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED). Over the past year alone, SHF has trained 8,461 individuals, building a growing network of Community First Responders—everyday heroes who are ready to step in during emergencies.
Through initiatives like Project Heart, CPR+AED courses, and the innovative CPR Self-Learning Kiosk, SHF ensures these lifesaving skills reach as many people as possible. In 2023, SHF went a step further by founding the Community First Responders Club and the Cardiac Arrest Survivors Club in collaboration with UPEC. These clubs offer vital platforms for sharing experiences, mental wellness support, and additional training, fostering a united and empowered community.
Celebrating 55 Years of Resilience
The National Gallery Singapore recently hosted SHF’s 55th anniversary event, commemorating its incredible journey and celebrating the people who have contributed to a heart-healthier nation. The event featured the ‘Resilient heARTs’ exhibition, showcasing 55 remarkable visual and sound art pieces from stakeholders, including cardiac patients, survivors, SHF staff, and board members.
Interactive kiosks, such as the BP Awareness Kiosk, CPR Self-Learning Kiosk, and the brand-new CardioChase Game Kiosk, engaged attendees, reinforcing heart health knowledge while teaching lifesaving techniques.
The celebration concluded with a Mandarin dialogue session titled “Building Tomorrow with Heart and Resilience”, featuring panel discussions with esteemed leaders, including Prof Tan Huay Cheem, Dr Wu Wei, and Ms Mei Reading. Their insights centred on the importance of resilience, heart health, and the collaborative efforts needed to build a healthier future.
Empowering Resilience Through Art
SHF joined forces with local social service agencies and enterprises to celebrate inclusion and creativity through six immersive art stations. These unique workshops inspired participants to explore the theme of resilience through artistic expression:
- Moss Photo Frame Workshop, hosted by the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore
- “Soft Tissue, Hard Design” Workshop, by the Singapore Association for Mental Health
- Sustainable Urban Farming Workshop, led by Everything Green
- Artistic Crafting Workshop, with celebrated illustrator Patrick Yee
- Heartfelt Memento Workshop, guided by local visual artist Elisa Liu
These collaborative efforts highlighted the unifying power of art in promoting heart health and community engagement.
Join the Mission to Build a Heart-Healthy Singapore
As SHF celebrates 55 years of impactful work, its commitment to reducing cardiovascular deaths remains unwavering. The Foundation invites the public to join its mission by tuning into the SHF Charity TV Show ‘Resilient Hearts’ on Mediacorp Channel 8, airing 29 June 2025 from 7pm to 10pm. This special event celebrates SHF’s legacy while raising funds for its cause.
For more details, visit https://shf55.myheart.org.sg/.
Pictures courtesy of SHF.
