Pedal power hits Pompey

A record number of cyclists pedalled into action for the Round the Harbours Bike Ride in Portsmouth on Sunday - which meant a lot of valuable and much appreciated fundraising for us.

“It was an absolutely fantastic day," said the event organiser Melanie Blackman.

"The sun was shining - well, for most of the day - the participants 

were wonderful and the staff and volunteers that managed the four checkpoints did an incredible job.

"This was the 13th year for the Round the Harbours Bike Ride and it was a record breaker with over 1,300 fundraising heroes taking part. Now I'm very much looking forward to seeing those lifesaving funds come flooding in!”

BHF rides high thanks to Norwich Bike Ride

A round of applause for everyone who took part in the Norwich Bike Ride; a record 2,500 cyclists got on their bikes for our charity event on Sunday.

With a choice of a 50 or 100 mile course, this wasn't the easiest of challenges - particularly when you add some traditionally dreary British weather into the equation. But our intrepid riders didn't let it put them off - and for their reward, as they broke across the finish line, so did the sunshine!

Now in its tenth year, the course takes the riders through perfect cycling country with quiet roads and picturesque villages, so it's hardly surprising that so many people wanted to take part...

“The atmosphere was incredible," said event organiser Rob Cox. "We had people of all ages taking part from early teens to riders in their seventies. I spoke to a chap of 63 who did the 100 miles and he came over the finish line with a massive grin on his face. Many thanks to everyone involved.”

Glasgow subway a safer place thanks to us

Glasgow’s subway network will be a safer place thanks to an appeal from the British Heart Foundation Scotland.

The Subway operator Strathclyde Partnership for Transport is supporting the Saving Lives in Glasgow Appeal, which aims to raise £100,000 to provide one hundred life-saving defibrillators in key locations across the city.

Used to restart a person's heart when they suffer cardiac arrest, seven of these defibrillators will be placed in six key subway stations and Buchanan bus station - and initially 25 staff will be trained to use them

To support the Appeal visit bhf.org.uk/glasgowappeal or contact Carole Nicol on 0141 954 8542 or by email at nicolc@bhf.org.uk

Britain's top athletes team up for the BHF

After their big win at the 2008 Olympics, the British Yngling team's latest challenge might seem like a drop in the ocean - but it's still one that will make a big impact on home shores...

Gold medalists Sarah Webb, Sarah Ayton and Pippa Wilson - also known as "three blondes in a boat" - are among a team of athletes taking part in a mission to highlight the link between diet, lifestyle, sport and health and raise more than £100,000 to help us beat heart disease together.

For their particular challenge, the trio will be taking to dry land and treking from Land's End to John O'Groats, where they will be stopping off at schools along the route to present a health and fitness roadshow.

Before this particular mission sets off, Webb and fellow sportsperson Nick Dempsey, who came fourth in Beijing after winning bronze at the Athens Olympics, will be getting on their bikes for a 880-mile cycle ride. Starting this weekend, they are expected to pedal roughly 100 miles a day during the trek north from Cornwall to Scotland.

"This is a real challenge and something that I am really enjoying," Webb said. "It is a fantastic opportunity to raise money for a great cause in the British Heart Foundation but also show young people that they really can enjoy getting fit and enjoy sport."

Organised by Be Number 1, a website that helps raise financial support for aspiring British Olympians, Paralympians and world champions, other athletes taking part in the challenge include extreme runner Kevin Carr, 28, from Woolacombe, who is attempting to run a 1,111-mile cross-country route in just 21 days. There's also Jason Gill, who was disabled after falling more than 50ft in a rock-climbing accident in 1997, who will be hand-cycling the route.

Meanwhile, Robin Simpson, a 30-year-old commercial quantity surveyor from Leeds, will be trying to set his 12th endurance world record by cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End and back again. Finally, there's British kite-surfing champion Stephanie Bridge, who will kite-surf the 890 miles to John O'Groats by travelling up the west coast line of Britain this August.

Red Wharf puts our latest Jog into orbit

A sea of red-shirted joggers pounded the pavements of London's Canary Wharf yesterday for the 13th annual British Heart Foundation Canary Wharf Jog.

Crowds gathered as superb dance troupe Ascension Eagles started the entertainment, and celebrity couple Christine and Neil Hamilton joined in a warm-up session led by Reebok staff.

Then, as the Hamilton's cut the start tape and the klaxon sounded, more than 1000 joggers set off around the Wharf to complete up to five laps of the 1km circuit, raising thousands of pounds for to help us beat heart together.

The Jog is facilitated by Canary Wharf Group plc, and is now a major community event for people who live, work and study around east London.

One of last year's top fundraisers, Jacqui Ellis, an executive assistant to Howard Boville and Ben Burgess, was back to raise more money for us in support of her brother-in-law, who had a heart attack at the age of 55.

Jacqui said: “What I think has really worked this year is the fact that there are so many people from the British Heart Foundation, supporting and encouraging everyone as they jog along.

"It really has made a big difference to me. It's very encouraging and we have had some laughs along the way.”

Did you take part in the Jog, or did you turn out to watch? If so, share your experiences by posting a comment below.

And for details of more BHF events this summer go to bhf.org.uk/events

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.