PEOPLE in Ilkley are being urged to help the fight against heart disease by raising money for lifesaving research.

The British Heart Foundation will be staging a meeting in Ben Rhydding this month to give people chance to join their local fundraising group.

Around 57,380 people across the Bradford district are fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease. Each year the devastating conditions claim the lives of more than 1213 people in the Bradford area alone.

Now local volunteers are needed to help fund vital research by organising coffee mornings, afternoon teas, garden parties, collections, walks and fashion shows.

Howard Allen, from Ilkley, is already helping as a collection tin volunteer in the town and is looking forward to being part of the fundraising group.

He said: “I had a heart attack in 2001 and then was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation in 2008; it was such a shock as I was healthy and a non-smoker, having completed three London Marathons in my time. I wanted to support the BHF and give back. I am looking forward to being part of the local Ilkley Fundraising Group as well as also being a collection tin volunteer locally, since starting in summer 2017 I have raised over £289 from tins placed in local businesses around Ilkley.”

Sue Green Fundraising Manager for Wharfedale said: “We are delighted to have Howard volunteering with us and having him cover the collection tin role. We are pleased so many locally businesses have chosen to support us in this way. Volunteers are absolutely integral to the success of BHF and play a vital part in helping us support more people affected by heart and circulatory conditions. 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.”

The meeting will take place at the Wheatley Arms at Ben Rydding at 7.30pm on Monday, April 16. Anyone interested in attending should contact Sue Green Fundraising Manager for Wharfedale on 01274 548324 or greens@bhf.org.uk.

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

For more information or to find a local group or to book a talk from a volunteer speaker , visit www.bhf.org.uk/localfundraising or contact Sue Green, BHF Fundraising Manager for Wharfedale by emailing greens@bhf.org.uk or by calling 01274 548324.