A NATIONAL heart charity is urging Ilkley residents to join a new fundraising group and help raise funds for research.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is calling on the people of Ilkley to help accelerate the fight against heart disease by joining their local fundraising group and raising money for lifesaving research.

Around 57,380 people across Bradford area are fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease. Each year these conditions claim the lives of more than 1,213 people in Bradford area alone.

The nation’s heart charity is calling on people across Ilkley to take heart and join the fight against heart disease by becoming part of their local fundraising group and raising vital funds for heart research.

Sue Green, BHF Fundraising Manager for West Yorkshire, said: "Our fundraising groups are the face of the BHF in their local communities. From running fundraising events to supporting schools and local businesses and organising collections, they are a fantastic way to support our vital work.

"Any time that you can give will be invaluable, because every pound raised from our fundraising groups will help fund vital research and identify new treatments that could help save lives.

“Heart disease is heartless. Too many lives are lost in West Yorkshire each year, and we’re determined to do everything we can to protect more families from this devastation.

“By signing up to your local fundraising group you can help us fund the research that’s so desperately needed to bring us closer to beating heart disease. Together we can save more lives. It’s also a fantastic way to meet new people and make a real difference in your community.

"BHF research has helped halve death rates from heart and circulatory disease over the past 50 years, but there is still a long way to go. Through the public’s generosity the BHF will fund half a billion pounds of new research over the next five years."

For more information or to find the group, visit www.bhf.org.uk/localfundraising or contact Sue Green, BHF Fundraising Manager for West Yorkshire by emailing greens@bhf.org.uk or calling 01274 548324