Website winner supports charity

Mick McGlinchey (left), Anna Steven and Iain Lowis

The fight against heart disease in Scotland has received a funding boost from BBC Scotland News Online.

The site was named Website Publication of the Year for the second year running at the annual BT Scotland Media Awards.

The accolade also came with a £500 cheque for charity, which the team decided to donate to the British Heart Foundation.

The charity's Scottish regional director Iain Lowis said: "I am very grateful that the British Heart Foundation was selected.

Heart disease is a real problem in Scotland and that was a factor recognised by our journalists in making their decision

Mick McGlinchey, editor

"Heart disease is a major problem in Scotland and as we do not get any government funding it is events like this that help us to raise the money we need to carry on the work we do in Scotland.

"We have about £13m committed in Scotland to research."

The charity raises about £2.8m each year in Scotland - and received six times that amount from the British Heart Foundation.

About 70% of that money is spent on research, with the rest going on education, rehabilitation, patient care and equipment.

Of each pound donated to the charity, 84p is spent on the charity's work, 13p is spent on promotion and fund raising and the remaining 3p goes on administration.

Winning ways

BT Scotland press and PR manager Anna Steven said: "The BT Scotland Media Awards are all about rewarding excellence, but by introducing an element of giving top charity we are delivering a real benefit back to the community."

BBC Scotland News Online editor Mick McGlinchey said: "We were delighted to win the BT award for the second time and being able to assist The British Heart Foundation is the icing on the cake.

"Members of the team were asked to nominate a charity to receive the money and BHF was the clear winner.

"Heart disease is a real problem in Scotland and that was a factor recognised by our journalists in making their decision."