Poppy’s Light Foundation

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Poppy’s Light Foundation

Preventing sudden cardiac death in young people through early detection and family protection

22/10/2026

Not booked the office Christmas party yet?

With only 64 days until the big day (eek!), if you’re looking to swap the usual festive gathering for something with a little more sparkle and a lot more meaning, why not join us on Saturday 5th December for the Poppy’s Light Christmas Party?

✨ Bring your team together
✨ Impress your clients and contacts
✨ Enjoy a night to remember
✨ Help raise awareness of inherited cardiac conditions

Every ticket helps Poppy’s Light Foundation continue our work to raise awareness, educate communities and support families affected by inherited cardiac conditions.

🎅 Saturday 5th December
📍 Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art, Newcastle
🎫 Email [email protected] for more information

21/10/2026

“A normal test shouldn’t erase an abnormal story.”

These powerful words feature in a new article with our Founder and Poppy’s mum, Victoria, published by Executives Diary.

In the article, ‘A Normal Test Shouldn’t Erase an Abnormal Story’, Vicki shares the deeply personal story behind Poppy’s Light Foundation and explains why recognising the warning signs of inherited cardiac conditions is so important.

Poppy’s story is at the heart of everything we do. Our hope is that by sharing it, another young person might get the right assessment and another family might be spared unimaginable loss. 🩵

Thank you to Executives Diary for giving us the opportunity to share our story.
📖 You can read the full article here: https://executivesdiary.com/2026/10/21/victoria-eagle/

20/10/2026

On Thursday, we’re delighted to be a proud sponsor and exhibitor at the Health Innovation North 2026 conference at the Hilton Newcastle Tyne Bridge Hotel.

The event will explore cutting-edge solutions that drive improvements in population health and foster economic growth.

This will be a fantastic opportunity to have a presence in the room, showcase some of the work we’re developing and, importantly, start conversations about what comes next.

From our work around inherited cardiac conditions and the development of POPPY Check, to our growing focus on education, awareness and earlier recognition of potential cardiac red flags, there’s lots we want to share and plenty we want to learn too.

Events like this give us the chance to connect with people who share our ambition to improve outcomes for young people and families affected by inherited cardiac conditions.

If you’re attending HINENC, come and say hello to us! 👋

19/10/2026

Earlier this month, we were delighted to support 160 Sunderland College students with their Restart a Heart initiative, as they take their learning out to fellow students across the region via Teams.

Alongside our POPPY check, we helped the young people build a wider understanding of cardiac health, from recognising potential red flags and understanding when something needs escalating, to knowing how to respond with confidence in a cardiac emergency.

What we loved most about this initiative is who is doing the educating, young people teaching other young people. Conversations about heart health shouldn’t just happen in hospitals, GP surgeries or classrooms. Young people can play a huge part in helping their friends, classmates and communities understand what to look out for and, importantly, when and how to act.

By sharing knowledge and building confidence, we can help create a generation that is more comfortable talking about cardiac health and better prepared to respond when it matters.

A huge well done to the students for taking the lead!

15/10/2026

As we recently welcomed three new trustees to the Foundation, today, we’re hearing from Nicola on her reasons for joining us.

Nicola has been working with us for several month, helping us with our communications and marketing and, as you’ll hear in this video, she’s been hugely impressed by the ambition, passion and determination behind Poppy’s Light.

So, when the opportunity came to join our Board of Trustees, it was a very easy YES!

We’re incredibly pleased to have Nicola officially join the Poppy’s Light family and bring her experience, ideas and enthusiasm to the charity as we continue to grow and, most importantly, protect young hearts.

🎥 Let’s hear more….

14/10/2026

🏃 Didn't get a Great North Run place? Don’t worry, why not run for Poppy’s Light Foundation?

If you missed out on a ballot place, you could still have the chance to take on the iconic 13.1 miles while raising money to help protect young hearts and support families affected by inherited cardiac conditions.

As part of our team, we can guarantee you won't be running alone. You’ll be part of Team Poppy’s Light, joining other runners who are taking on the challenge for something incredibly important.

There’ll be training, fundraising, plenty of encouragement and, of course, that very special feeling of crossing the finish line knowing you've helped make a difference.

So, if your 2027 plans currently involve “I didn't get a place, so that's that”, think again. 😉

Email our team to enquire about a spot:
✉️ [email protected]

10/10/2026

A lovely opportunity to join the University of Sunderland’s Cardiology Society Conference today, sharing Poppy's story with our future doctors.

A normal test shouldn't erase an abnormal story.

So pleased to introduce our POPPY Check alongside some brilliant cardiac specialists.

Thank you for having Poppy's Light! 🩵

09/10/2026

As Poppy’s Light Foundation continues to grow, so does our Board of Trustees.

Before we introduce three new members of the team, we want to say a huge thank you to Louise Housley-Knight and Graham Moor.

Both have played an important part in helping Poppy’s Light get to where it is today, giving their time, experience and support to help us grow and strengthen the Foundation. We’re incredibly grateful for everything they’ve contributed and wish them all the very best for the future. 🩵

As we move forward, we’re excited to welcome three new Trustees to the Poppy’s Light family:

💷 Iain Robson – Finance Trustee
Iain brings his financial expertise to the Board, helping us continue to build strong financial foundations as the charity grows.

📣 Nicola Halse – Communications Trustee
Nicola has worked with Poppy’s Light since the beginning of the year and brings more than 30 years’ experience in marketing, communications and business development. She’ll help us continue to share our story, raise awareness of inherited cardiac conditions and reach more families who may need our support.

🎓 Helen Brennan – Education Partnerships Trustee
Helen will lead our engagement across schools, colleges and universities, helping us build stronger education partnerships and ensure the message of protecting young hearts reaches the next generation.

Together, they bring finance, communications and education expertise to the Board, strengthening the skills and experience we have around the table as Poppy’s Light continues to grow.

There is so much more we want to achieve and having the right people, skills and passion behind us is a huge part of making that possible.

So, thank you Louise and Graham for everything you've done, and welcome Iain, Nicola and Helen.

Here’s to the next chapter of Poppy’s Light Foundation. 🩵

07/10/2026

New research from the Spanish Centre for Cardiovascular Research could open a new route towards treating an inherited heart condition. 🩵

Researchers have identified a previously unknown protein-degradation mechanism involved in catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a serious inherited arrhythmia that mainly affects children and young people.

The study has identified an enzyme called calpain as a potential therapeutic target. In laboratory models, blocking calpain helped restore important proteins involved in the heart’s calcium-handling system and reduced ventricular arrhythmias.

That’s an encouraging step forward in understanding the condition and exploring potential new treatments, however, there’s an important caveat: this is preclinical research, carried out using experimental models. Much more research is needed before we know whether this approach could eventually be used as a treatment for people with CPVT.

Every new piece of knowledge helps us understand more about inherited cardiac conditions and reminds us why recognising potential red flags and getting the right support matters.

We’ll certainly be keeping an eye on where this research leads.

05/10/2026

Taking Poppy’s story into the next generation of medicine. 🩵

We’re incredibly proud to share that Poppy’s mam, Victoria, founder of Poppy’s Light Foundation, has been invited to speak at the University of Sunderland School of Medicine Cardiology Society Annual Conference this Saturday.

At this flagship event, Vicki will be sharing Poppy’s story, our work around inherited cardiac conditions, the clinical red flags that can sometimes be missed and the development of the POPPY Check with the next generation of doctors.

This is a hugely important opportunity for us, protecting young hearts isn’t just about understanding the clinical side of inherited cardiac conditions, it’s also about understanding what happens to young people and families when a diagnosis is missed, when a life is changed in an instant and when families are left searching for answers.

Poppy’s story began with one family’s devastating experience. Today, that lived experience is helping shape conversations around clinical awareness, education and earlier identification and now, those conversations are reaching the next generation of doctors.

From lived experience, to developing something clinically meaningful, to becoming part of medical education.

Address

Washington

Telephone

+447964966920

Website

http://www.poppyslightfoundation.com/

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