NEXT week the British Heart Foundation (BHF) is hosting its third annual Hearts First York City Jog - an event that raises vital funds to help support men, women and children whose hearts need a helping hand.

This year we are looking for more than 400 local people to take part and help us raise more than £10,000 to help pioneering research into the causes and treatment of heart and circulatory problems - the UK's biggest killer.

There is still time to register, and this year we are delighted to have Chris Porter, York City FC's goalkeeper and a long-standing supporter of BHF as a result of having heart surgery as a child, starting and taking part in the event.

We are appealing to members of the York community to once again put on their trainers and help us achieve our goal and save and improve the lives of people who have experienced the devastation of heart disease.

Physical activity halves the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Walking and jogging are great forms of cardiovascular exercise and the BHF hopes to encourage people to get their hearts pumping.

Registration for the Hearts First York City Jog on Tuesday, April 11, is now open. The event is open to everyone - you can run, walk or jog - and the emphasis is firmly on having fun while raising vital funds to help the BHF continue its life-saving research into the causes, prevention and treatment of heart disease.

The BHF also funds life-saving equipment and patient care, including three BHF heart-failure nurses based at Selby and York Primary Care Trust.

For more information, people can visit or phone 0800 917 6976.

Helen Whiteley,

Regional events organiser,

The British Heart Foundation,

Wetherby Road,

Tadcaster.

Updated: 10:17 Tuesday, April 04, 2006