The British Heart Foundation has unveiled a commemorative red bench at University College London as part of a new campaign to celebrate 65 years of research.
Situated on the Bloomsbury Campus, the bench is dedicated to Emmanuel Offei, a Balham based chef and social media influencer, who experienced a blood clot scare in 2024.
Offei, who teaches cookery to Wormwood Scrubs inmates and has nearly 1,000 followers on TikTok, is one of 65 people across the UK to receive a dedicated bench from the charity.
He said: “I’m extremely humbled to have a bench in my name – I could never imagine it.
“It’s a ray of sunshine and something positive that came out of a really frightening experience.”
Offei (pictured on the bench) had been travelling to work in January 2024 when he started to experience pain and tightness in his chest.
After a visit to Hammersmith Hospital, tests confirmed a blood clot had reached one of Offei’s coronary arteries, and he was given medication to control his blood pressure.
Despite continuing investigations to find the root cause, Offei is keen to share his experience with others.
He said: “I got quite depressed after I fell ill because I found it hard to do basic things like shopping or cooking and I was worried it would happen again.
“It’s given me a new perspective not to work all the time and spend time with the people I love.
“I also want to raise awareness of cardiovascular conditions and the fact it can happen to anyone.”
A recent survey from the BHF of 2,000 adults living with cardiovascular disease in the UK suggests that over half (55%) feel judged or embarrassed by their condition.
The BHF hopes their red bench campaign will encourage people to open up about their experiences, and raise awareness for cardiovascular disease.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, BHF chief executive, said: “Emmanuel’s story shows the true reality of living with cardiovascular disease, and we are so grateful that he is courageously sharing his experiences to help others.
“By sharing the stories of people who live with cardiovascular disease on our iconic red benches across the UK, we hope to start more conversations that change dangerous misconceptions.”
More red benches are set to be installed across the UK as part of the national campaign, with plaques naming other suvivors of cardiovascular conditions.
The charity also continues to fund lifesaving research through their flagship programme, CureHeart, and groundbreaking AI projects.
UCL’s Bloomsbury Campus was chosen as the location for Offei’s bench as it is one of the leading cardiovascular research centres in the UK, and one of BHF’s dedicated Centres of Research Excellence.
To make a donation towards BHF’s ongoing cardiovascular research, visit: //bhf.org.uk/keepusbeating
Feature image courtesy BHF
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