Runners needed to help fund research

PEOPLE in Portsmouth are being called on to accelerate the fight against heart disease by signing up to a running challenge and raising money for life-saving research.

By The Newsroom

Published 29th Apr 2017, 05:55 BST

Updated 9th May 2017, 18:45 BST

The British Heart Foundation is encouraging people to grab their running shoes, get active and help save lives by taking on one of the charity’s running events this year.

In Portsmouth around 19,800 people are fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease, which causes 484 deaths a year.

Last year, runners raised £3.5m for BHF’s research.

Shonali Rodrigues, head of events, said: ‘Heart disease can devastate families at a moment’s notice. Our running events provide a fantastic opportunity to keep your own heart healthy whilst helping raise funds for our world-leading research. These events are a great day out for all the family so I would encourage everyone to join their local events.’

The Great South Run takes place on Sunday, October 22 in Portsmouth. Entries are now open. For more go to bhf.org.uk/runs