THOUSANDS of people have been wearing red today to help promote healthy hearts and the British Heart Foundation's awareness campaign.

Pupils at Elvington Primary School and the Minster School were among those wearing their brightest clothes for the BHS Wear It, Beat It campaign, to help raise funds for life- saving research.

Children at Elvington wanted to show their support after Year 3 pupil Isabel Bojke's youngest sister Georgia successfully underwent surgery the day before her first birthday, after being diagnosed with a hole in the heart as a baby.

Their parents Laura and Chris spoke about the experience, from Georgia's diagnosis to her operation, in The Press earlier this week to encourage others to back the BHS campaign. Jenny Rogers, head teacher at Elvington, said: "I was asked by Isabel's mum to support this campaign as we often raise money as a school for various causes throughout the year.

"We were all aware at school of the difficulties the family had been through and we were delighted to be able to support them by raising awareness and funds for this great cause. We were all so pleased to hear that Georgia, Isabel's youngest sister, had finally had the operation she needed to close a large hole in her heart and all was well. Isabel has told us how much she eats now and she is finally thriving!"

Alex Donaldson, head teacher at the Minster School, said one of the school's four houses had chosen the BHF as its charity to support this term.

Staff at The Press office have held a cake sale and raffle for the cause, while York Hospital has been holding fundraising events this week and been offering on-the-spot blood pressure checks in the main entrance.

At Tadcaster Grammar School where a number of students have benefitted from the special care and treatment offered at Leeds General Infirmary's children's heart unit, pupils raised funds for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.

Dr Elspeth Brown, Consultant Paediatric and Fetal Cardiologist, and Lead for Congenital Cardiology, Leeds Congenital Heart Unit and also a mother of two children at Tadcaster Grammar School, said: “We are so grateful for the support we receive from all schools in Yorkshire and the money raised by the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund is vital to support the work of the Congenital Heart Unit in Leeds,”

Meanwhile, shoppers in York city centre were offered free blood pressure tests by ambulance staff.

Jayson Lee, operational supervisor at YorMed who has organised the day with the BHF, said: “High blood pressure is a common problem in the UK with over 30 per cent of men and women suffering from it.

“In past years when we have run these events we have had an amazing turnout of up to 200 people and we hope this year will be no different."

One in four people die from heart and circulatory disease, so the British Heart Foundation asked people to show their support by wearing red today and host an event.