British Heart Foundation Cymru & Ramblers Cymru join forces in charity’s 60th birthday fundraiser

BRITISH Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru is celebrating 60 years of pioneering research this year and has invited all 39 Rambling Groups across Wales to join its Team 60 fundraising challenge.

Participants are invited to help save lives as they walk, amble and ramble with their local group to raise £600 as a team to help Ramblers Cymru engage with more walkers and help BHF Cymru fund another 60 years of research into heart and circulatory diseases, which affect around 340,000 people, and cause 1 in 4 deaths in Wales.

Andy Green, BHF Fundraising Manager for North Wales said “It’s great to have Ramblers Cymru on board for this, our 60th birthday year. The challenge will see each group complete a 60,000 step walk with funds raised donated to both charities equally. We chose 60,000 as, by adulthood, we each have 60,000 miles of blood vessels inside our bodies – that’s more than twice the distance around the world. Those vessels keep blood flowing, supplying your tissues with oxygen and nutrients, and keeping your organs, including the heart, healthy. This partnership will help more people to get active, have fun and raise money to power the next 60 years of our lifesaving work.”

Walking is a great way to get some exercise during the summer months. Not only is it a free and environmentally friendly way to get from A to B, it has many health and wellbeing benefits. Walking releases endorphins, which can boost your mood and help with stress, you will burn calories, and regular walking can help reduce your risk of developing a high blood pressure or high cholesterol that can cause heart attacks and stroke.

Angela Charlton, Director at Ramblers Cymru said: “We are delighted to have teamed up with BHF Cymru to celebrate their 60th birthday.
“As a charity we want to see a happier, healthier Wales where walking is at the heart of every community. Walking is a great way to maintain and improve our health and wellbeing and we hope that this fundraising challenge will encourage even more people to get out and explore our beautiful nation.”

Ramblers Cymru has a list of local groups across Wales where people can join in walks.

You can help raise funds for Ramblers Cymru and BHF Cymru by taking part in a walk with your local group and making a donation at: www.justgiving.com/campaign/bhfandramblersfundraiser

The BHF’s focus is to continue to fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases for the next 60 years, including heart failure, inherited heart diseases, improved treatments for stroke and recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic. To find out more and support the BHF’s 60th visit bhf.org.uk/birthday