A BUSINESSMAN says the £20,000 he helped raise for the heart attack rehabilitation centre that put him back on the road to recovery is just the start of his fundraising commitment.
Tony Preston, who collapsed while on a family holiday in Spain last year, said the two months of rehabilitation therapy at the Basildon Hospital specialist centre was "lifesaving".
When asked what he could do to help, staff initially asked only for tea and coffee.
But Mr Preston instead took it upon himself to organise a charity ball at Stock Brook Manor Country Club , in Billericay, on October 18.
Fresh from the efforts in Billericay, the 47-year-old is now looking to call on the efforts of his friend Jimmy Doherty, who shot to fame in the TV show Jimmy's Farm, to help stage a fundraising festival next year.
The 47-year-old builder from Goodwood Avenue, Hutton, said: "I want to do all I can to help the unit. I know Jimmy and I know we can raise quite a bit of money."
He added: "Without the team in Basildon I wouldn't be here today. I call them my little angels. I was considering suicide at one point. I couldn't cope. I couldn't do what I wanted. I couldn't walk anywhere without getting out of breath."
When Mr Preston started suffering pains in his chest and stomach while on holiday, he initially thought it was just indigestion.
But the pains persisted and culminated in him suffering a heart attack on August 9 last year.
Returning to the UK, Mr Preston underwent intensive physical rehabilitation supplemented with counselling.
"When you have a heart attack it is very scary. I was having a nightmare time. But they were there for me all the time.
"I'll be forever grateful to them but now I want to help other people who are going through what I went through."
A lifelong West Ham fan, Mr Preston was helped by Stockbrook Manor owner David Sullivan, who underwent a quadruple heart bypass 18 years ago. Mr Sullivan donated £1,000 and a signed West Ham shirt to the event, which had a West Ham theme.
Former players Tony Cottee, Tony Gale, Stuart Slater and Alan McKnight also attended, along with Mr Doherty.
Among the items that added to the impressive total was a signed Lionel Messi boot that went for £800, a signed Tottenham shirt that went for £950, a Jimmy's farm package for £550 and a Sugar Hut VIP experience that was auctioned for £750.
Mr Preston's wife Coral added: "What a huge success and most of all everyone had a fantastic time. We were so overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and support. The evening could not have gone any better than it did.
"Please can we thank every single person who bought a ticket and attended the event, without them we wouldn't have raised the amazing figure."
Donna Jessup, Cardiac Rehab Sister at the Essex Cardiothoracic Centre in Basildon, said: "Tony is a great example and inspiration to us all as he has overcome both the emotional and physical impact of his heart attack, with time, effort and perseverance.
"Many patients will benefit from the money by allowing us to purchase additional equipment to help their recovery."
