Mending Broken Hearts Art Tour

The British Heart Foundation will be celebrating its 50th birthday next year. To mark this occasion, a fantastic array of leading contemporary British artists, including Sir Peter Blake, have created original works of art on the theme of ‘Mending Broken Hearts’.

These artworks have now been produced as limited edition silk-screen prints and the collection goes on a tour of UK galleries, starting in June.

Why not pop along to a gallery near you to see the prints in their full glory? The prints can also be purchased, as a set or individually, from CCA galleries online.

You can find a full list of galleries and dates on our website.

From capital to coast - beating heart disease together

A huge well done and thank you to the 27,000 cyclists who took part our London to Brighton Bike Ride in great weather yesterday.

Our annual 54-mile ride, Europe's largest charity bike event, on a scenic route through Surrey and Sussex has raised over £46m for our lifesaving work since it started.

Cyclists set off from south London at half-hourly intervals from 6am to 9am and began arriving on Brighton seafront from about 8.30am.

Since 1980, when we first became involved, over 650,000 riders have taken part. Most riders took about six hours to reach the finishing post.

Among those taking part was comedian and author Dave Gorman (pictured right), who completed the route in three hours and 59 minutes.

"I wanted to get under four hours," he said. "I'm really pleased I got up Ditchling Beacon. I'm officially fitter than I was four years ago when I did it last.

"It was brilliant that people came out to cheer. It's a great event to support the BHF."

BHF spokeswoman Tamara Bennett said: "The day has gone really, really well. The weather has been fantastic - dry and sunny but with enough cloud cover to stop people getting too hot."

See our Flickr photo gallery from L2B 2009

Follow the event as it unfolded on our Twitter feed

Did you take part in the Ride, or would you like to pay tribute to those who did? Then please post a comment below...

This just in...

Here's an excellent new inspirational video of our Heart Runners taking part in the recent BHF Knebworth House Jog 2009 (with a lively and uplifting soundtrack provided for us without charge by Moby) - we hope you enjoy it...

Pictures tell story of bids to beat heart disease

Our 2009 events season is now well and truly upon us, and already thousands of people have helped raise vital funds to help us beat heart disease together.

We've just posted some new photo galleries of recent events including the Calke Abbey Walk, Hadrian's Wall Hike and the White Peak Challenge Bike Ride (pictured right).

Check them out, together with inspiring photos from lots of other British Heart Foundation events and campaigns, on our online galleries at Flickr

If you want to help beat heart disease together, find out what events we've got coming up by checking out our special events website.

London to Brighton registrations opened today!

Just a quick update - today our London to Brighton bike ride opened its doors for standard registrations.

We've received over 4,000 standard entries in the first few hours. Plus a few people have already setup their fundraising pages, here are two examples....

Louise Doherty
Will Moverley

Let us know about your L2B fundraising efforts by leaving a comment here.

Are you speedier than Santa?

At the BHF we’re getting fit for the festive season!

Thousands of Santas will be donning their running shoes and red suits to take part in our Santa Jog events across the UK.

You can get into the holiday spirit too by playing our fun online game to help Santa get in training so he’s ready for the big day.

Please help us to promote the jogs by emailing the game link to your friends, family and colleagues.

What do you think of our Santa game? Post a comment below.

Heart patient Julie’s recovery challenge

We always love to hear from our supporters. When Vicki Gilham wrote to tell us about her family’s sponsored walk in aid of the British Heart Foundation, we thought we’d find out more. Here’s the full story as told by Vicki’s dad, Pete.

“On Saturday 18 October this year, a party of 11 of us set off from the church in Patterdale to walk and scramble our way up Helvellyn in the Lake District via Striding Edge.

“My wife Julie had her mitral valve repaired in August 2007, and had set herself the recovery challenge to be able to climb Helvellyn again.

“We mentioned the trip to our son and daughters and they said they wanted to come with us. The children thought it would be a good idea to turn it into a sponsored event and set up a webpage on JustGiving.

“The climb was a very hard day for Julie. Without the continual encouragement of the family and numerous rest stops she would never have made it. The weather did not help with driving rain, strong wind and low cloud cover. After five hours of grit and determination, she finally made it to the top.

“There must be a God because as we made the final scramble up to the summit, the clouds lifted, the sun came out and the views were magnificent.

“We had originally planned to do the trip a week later but couldn't book any accommodation. That was the weekend of the Original Mountain Marathon and the terrible storms in the Lake District we all saw on the news reports!

“We ended up making over £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation.”

Have you organised your own fundraising activity or taken part in a BHF event? Post your comment below and tell us what you've been doing.

Models needed this Thursday in London!

This coming February, we're launching a new BHF fundraising campaign called Red for Heart.

For the campaign, we're holding a photoshoot this Thursday, 13th November from 1.00-5.00pm in north west London. We need over 100 people to be our Red for Heart models!

The shoot will be of a crowd of people, all wearing red, holding up a huge heart shape and the photo will be taken from above.

To sign up for the photoshoot, please complete this simple form

When: 1-5pm, Thursday 13th November
Where: Park Royal Studios, 1 Barretts Green Road, London NW10 7AE
How to get there: Located in north west London, the studio is a five minute walk from Harlesden Underground station on the Bakerloo line (see map).

Don't forget to tell your friends and colleagues. Foward them the form

Thank you for your help and we hope to see there on Thursday!

Fitness First takes to the skies for the BHF

Staff and members at Fitness First have shown they are all heart by raising more than £81,000 for the BHF, the gym chain’s fundraising partner.

In the first year of the three year partnership, gym members have taken part in events including sky dives, our London to Paris Bike Ride and a static marathon run.

Daredevil Helen Cooke, 24, works at the Northampton branch of Fitness First. She raised more than £400 for the BHF by taking part in a sky dive.

Helen says: “I’d wanted to do a sky dive for a long time so when I saw the opportunity advertised in my gym I decided to go for it. The experience really was as amazing as I thought it would be and it was great to know I was raising money for a good cause at the same time.”

Douglas Rouse, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the British Heart Foundation said: “We are thrilled Fitness First has really risen to the challenge this year. With their enthusiastic fundraising they are playing an important role in helping raise awareness of heart disease as well as raising vital funds to fight it.”

Each of the 170 Fitness First clubs in the UK will continue to work closely with BHF over the next two years.

Find out more about Fitness First and the BHF and our other Charity of the Year partnerships.

Hearty walkers brave the elements

Nearly 100 hikers set out on this year's BHF Hearts First Chilterns Hike and even the wind, rain and mud couldn’t keep them away!

With the weather looking like it was going to be miserable all day, the BHF hikers left the start in Wendover Woods to brave their 18 mile hike. They followed a testing yet picturesque cross country route, traversing their way across some stunning Buckinghamshire countryside armed with maps, waterproofs and a keen sense of adventure

The hikers returned from 2pm with the last returning just as the dark was setting in (their torches proving very handy!) Many returned covered from head to toe in mud but all with beaming smiles on their faces.

We hope to raise £20,000 from this event and early signs are good that we will reach our target.

Find out more about taking part in our fundraising events

Will you go Red for Heart next February?

February is National Heart Month and a chance for you to take a stand against the UK’s biggest killer.

Every day, over 500 people die from heart and circulatory disease. The BHF is dedicated to saving lives through pioneering research, patient care and vital information.

In February, we’re urging people to raise funds and go Red for Heart.

To help you, we’ve put together a Red for Heart kit with all the tools and advice you need to make your fundraising a success.

Here are some fun ideas for starters:

• Have a Wear Red Day at work, school or in your community
• Throw a red dinner party or event with friends and family
• Organise a red-themed coffee morning or bake sale

… anything goes as long as it’s red!

Find out more at bhf.org.uk/red

Order your Red for Heart fundraising pack

James Bond night: shaken not stirred - and sold out!

We've just been informed that tickets have now sold out for the The Story of James Bond – A Tribute to Ian Fleming.

The event takes place this Sunday 5 October at the London Palladium, in aid of the BHF.

Hosted by Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry, the night promises to be a star-studded spectacle with Bond theme music, Bond girls and guest appearances galore.

Are you one of the lucky people who managed to get tickets for the night? If so, we'd love to hear from you after the event.

Send us your photos and highlights of the night

A Tale of Two University Cities

The fifth annual Oxford to Cambridge Hearts First Bike Ride took place on Sunday and saw approximately 950 cycling heroes tackling the 89 mile route in aid of the BHF.

Starting in the centre of Oxford, the popular bike ride then headed off through Oxfordshire and into Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, taking in some truly breathtaking scenery along the way. Riders finished in the heart of Cambridge on Midsummer Common.

Last year’s cyclists raised £134,000 of life saving funds. Event Manager Melanie Blackman is hoping sponsors will be just as generous this year.

Two top fundraiser prizes of a night in the Oxford Belfry and the Cambridge Belfry hotels with breakfast, courtesy of QHotels, are up for grabs to those sending in their sponsorship before 5th December.

Melanie said: "It was a fantastically well supported event. The fog at the start of the ride did add a little extra challenge but the sun soon shone through offering riders views of the spectacular countryside around them."

At the finish, riders were awarded a commemorative medal, free BHF t-shirt and relaxing massage. The RJ Ride Guide stunt team showed just how much control you can have over a bike with a breathtaking display of bravery. And for those ready to kick back and relax in the sunshine, delicious crepes, jacket potatoes, ice cream and a bar offered welcome refreshment.

Fancy cycling for the BHF? Find out more about our Hearts First Bike Ride events

Calling all James Bond fans!

For one night only, we’ve got a licence to thrill, delight and revel in all things 007!

2008 celebrates the centenary of Ian Fleming, author of the James Bond novels, who died from heart attack in 1964. He was just 56.

As a grand finale to the centenary year, a glamorous, star-studded gala night is being held in aid of the BHF. The event takes place at 7.30pm, Sunday 5th October, at the London Palladium.

Hosted by Joanna Lumley and Stephen Fry, the evening features stars from the worlds of film and theatre, as well some of the biggest names in music performing their favourite Bond themes.

A sneak preview clip from the new James Bond film, A Quantum of Solace, along with other special surprises will ensure that it is an evening not to be missed!

Check out our website for full details of the event.

Buy tickets online from See Tickets or by calling 0844 4124657.

Celebrity nutritionist Sally Bee launches the Hearts First Warwickshire Walk

Celebrity nutritionist Sally Bee will be one of 400 people taking part in the Hearts First Warwickshire Walk to raise £16,000 for the BHF.

Mum of three Sally, 37, from Stratford-Upon-Avon, is a living advertisement for the vital work of the BHF. An undiagnosed major genetic heart defect almost killed Sally in 2005, when she suffered 3 heart attacks in just 1 week.

Sally is rounding up support for the walk:

“By giving up a few hours of your life to take part, you can save the life of someone else. The exercise will also be good for your own heart, so give the fry up and lie in a miss on Sunday 14th September and sign up for the Warwickshire Walk!”

The Hearts First Warwickshire Walk takes place on Sunday 14th September. Participants can walk, run or jog the 5km course through the beautiful, historic grounds of Stoneleigh Abbey.

Are you or a friend taking part in a fundraising event for the BHF? If so, then let us know and we'll try to publicise it in our blog!