To Barca and back in a banger - and it's all for the BHF

Fundraising friends Stuart Heslington and Garry Bletcher are getting ready to drive an old banger from Sheffield to Barcelona and back in just eight days to raise money for us.

The duo don't know if their 1989 Volkswagen Scirocco (pictured above) - which they paid just £175 for - will be up to the job of covering the 2,500 mile round-trip journey. It's been standing idle and unloved for years, but they've been working hard on getting it up to scratch.

Stuart and Garry have spent months repairing the car, replacing engine parts, tyres and brakes on a shoestring. And to make sure they make a real impact they've have even gone to the trouble of creating a Hawaiian theme, painting the car with palm trees and a parrot.

Stuart, 37, a primary school caretaker, was inspired to help us after he lost his dad Norman to a heart attack at the age of just 43.

"I heard about the challenge and it's an ideal way to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation. I lost my dad to heart disease when I was young and wanted to help this charity save other lives at risk," he said.

"I have completed the Sheffield half marathon in the past to raise money and this time we hope to raise £500.

"The car's done 150,000 miles which is quite a way. It sounds more like a diesel than a petrol. There's quite a risk involved - it's a long way for an old banger. But it will be nice for the old car to go out with a bang rather than being taken to the scrapyard."

Stuart and Gary will start the journey this Friday (22 May) in Calais.

You can sponsor them now at justgiving.com/stuartheslington

What's the most 'extreme' thing you've done to raise money for the BHF? Tell us about it by posting a comment below...

10th Anniversary Over the Edge ride

The 10th Anniversary Over the Edge Bike Ride, organised in partnership with our friends at Trans Pennine Cycle Club, took place earlier this month.

Of the 400+ cyclists who took part in the challenge, around half took on the arduous 55 mile route from Hollingworth Lake, over Blackstone Edge and into the East Lancashire and West Yorkshire moors.

Others opted for the silver and bronze routes, among them a number of families who rode together.

As always there were a lot of regular riders, who take on the challenge year after year, as well as new faces.

Special thanks to David Geldard, Colin Fielding, Phil Dean & everyone involved at Trans Pennine Cycle Club and of course to everyone who has raised money for the BHF by taking part.

Take a look at the photos on our BHF Flickr page

If you would like to buy professional prints of any of the photos you can place an order with photographer James Lester on 01925 819 804. And, in doing so, you'll help us raise vital funds through donations we receive from photo sales.

Bostin boost for heart health

Support Donato Esposito and help him reach his aim of raising £5,000 for the BHF, as he hikes the Inca Trail this month.

Donato is the Founder of the Bostin Group and is selling these limited edition 'Feel the Bostin Love' T-shirts in aid of the BHF on the Bostin website

If you were wondering, Bostin is acutally a Brummie term for 'brilliant'. And it certainly is a bostin idea for an even more bostin cause!

Get one of these limited edition tees now, in time for summer!

You can also show your support for Donato on his BHF Sponsor Page

See how you too can help us raise funds so that we can continue our vital work and research.