The Heart Cells Foundation is deeply saddened by the death of Dame Esther Rantzen, our first Ambassador and a longstanding and passionate supporter of the Foundation.

Dame Esther believed deeply in the work of the Heart Cells Foundation and our mission to bring hope to people living with heart failure. Her support was also deeply personal, following the loss of her beloved husband, Desmond Wilcox, to heart disease.

Paying tribute, Jenifer Rosenberg OBE, Founder and Chair of the Heart Cells Foundation, said:

“Esther was an extraordinary woman whose warmth, courage and determination touched so many lives. From the very beginning, she believed deeply in the work of the Heart Cells Foundation and was proud to become our first ambassador. She was not simply a supporter of our work; she understood, through the loss of her beloved husband Desmond to heart disease, the devastating impact that heart disease can have on families.

“Esther’s commitment to helping others was unwavering. She brought compassion, energy and a remarkable ability to make people believe that change was possible. I feel incredibly privileged to have known her and to have had her standing alongside us in our mission to give people with heart failure hope for the future. Her legacy of kindness and service will live on in all those whose lives she touched.”

The Trustees, CEO and all at the Heart Cells Foundation sends their deepest condolences to Dame Esther’s family and loved ones.