A group of friends from Shipley are in training to run the 127 miles of the Leeds and Liverpool canal to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.

Team Hope – made up of Rebecca Rae, Howard Moxon, Martin Redman and Tony Rae – aim to raise £10,000 for the charity’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, which has been launched to mark its 50th anniversary.

The aim of the appeal is to fund research that could advance the reduction of heart disease in as little as ten years and save and improve the lives of millions of people within decades.

Team Hope aims to complete its challenge on Thursday, May 26, three days after setting off from Liverpool.

Rebecca Rae, a district nurse, said: “It is quite a challenge, but we are determined to complete the run and raise our target of £10,000.

“Sovereign Health Charitable Trust has also contributed towards the team’s target by donating £850, which the team is very grateful for.”

To help towards the total, the team is hosting an exclusive evening at the Yoyo Bar in Shipley, tomorrow.

The event includes a buffet and a raffle. Tickets are £10 each, which includes entry to a prize draw to win a weekend away.

Sue Green, British Heart Foundation fundraising and volunteer manager for West Yorkshire, said: “We are delighted that Team Hope will be supporting the BHF in 2011 with this event and the challenge.

“I know a lot of hard work has gone in to the planning behind it and we are very grateful to all of the team for their support.”

Tickets for the event at the YoYo Bar are available from (01274) 524324 or by e-mail at greens@bhf.org.uk.

If you would like to sponsor the team online go to justgiving.com/liverpool-leeds-run.

To find out more about organising your own BHF 50th anniversary fundraising event, or volunteering, contact Sue Green on (01274) 548324. For more information about the BHF’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, visit bhf.org.uk/mbh.

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