Heart Foundation hopes for great 'Skyfall' premiere - Urges public to support

Leighton Levy, Gleaner Writer

British superspy James Bond is known to be a martini man, shaken not stirred, but these days Bond has taken a liking to Heineken.

With that in mind, the Heart Foundation of Jamaica is partnering with Heineken along with Swiss Stores to host the premiere of the latest Bond instalment, Skyfall, at Carib 5 in Cross Roads today.

"Heineken and the Swiss Stores have had a long relationship with the James Bond franchise, and with Skyfall being one of the most anticipated James Bond films we saw this as a great opportunity to help raise funds for the Heart Foundation," said Nasha Douglas, Heineken brand manager.

The non-profit foundation is seeking to raise much-needed funds to offset costs for the work they do each year screening for potential heart trouble, treatment and rehabilitation of heart patients.

Yasmin Salmon-Russell, fund development and communications manager at the Heart Foundation, explains that the partnership between the foundation and Bond had been going on for a few years now.

"For the past four years, Palace Amusement has allowed us to use the James Bond premiere as a fund-raiser. This year, Bond is drinking Heineken, and as Heineken is internationally promoting the movie we have partnered with Swiss Stores and Heineken to do the red-carpet premiere," she said.

Celebrity appearances

According to Salmon-Russell, Palace has allowed the Heart Foundation a mark up on ticket sales to the premiere where guests who purchase $3,000 tickets get to rub shoulders with some of Jamaica's own celebrities, including Miss Jamaica World Deanna Robins. There will also be food and drink for guests prior to the screening of Skyfall.

Tickets can be had at the cinema tonight at the premiere but tickets are also being presold at Swiss Stores in the Mall Plaza and at the Heart Foundation at 28 Beechwood Avenue in Kingston.

Salmon-Russell urged members of the public to support the foundation's efforts. The Heart Foundation offers the most affordable heart care in Jamaica. The money the organisation raises helps to subsidise the cost of getting an electrocardiogram examination . The organisation also needs a constant supply of reagents to test for cholesterol and offers heart patients the help they need to get back on their feet.

"We are concerned about matters of the heart and encourage people to live a healthy lifestyle that leads to a healthy heart. It costs millions of dollars to do this," explained Salmon-Russell.