A LOCAL businessman is helping to beat heartbreak with a big-hearted charity donation.

Graham Paver, trustee of The Pavers Foundation, has donated £25,000 to British Heart Foundation through the charity initiative created by York-based shoe retailer Pavers.

Graham's donation will support research across the country, including local projects in York.

BHF currently funds six projects in the city, ranging from research into limiting the infection risk to patients who have implanted medical devices to attempts to find the genetic causes of blood cancer.

BHF is a cause close to the hearts of Graham's family following the loss of a family member to heart disease.

With this donation, they are pleased to give something back and help others going through similar experiences.

Graham said: "BHF offers hope for the future, that one day we can find cures for heart diseases that affect so many.

"As well as pioneering research, they raise awareness and offer vital support at a time when people need it the most."

BHF spokesman Paul Davies said: "This is a very generous donation. One in four people in the UK will die from heart or circulatory disease, so funding like this is vital to support our vision to beat the world's biggest killer."