MORE than 2,500 people joined forces to raise £120,000 to fight heart disease.

Runners flocked to the Harewood House Half Marathon, 10k and 2k event in February in aid of the British Heart Foundation.

Now in its fifth year, the event raised funds to prevent, diagnose and treat heart and circulatory conditions, which currently affect around seven million people in the UK.

Leanne Postlethwaite, Event Manager at the BHF said: “Without the dedication and commitment of our inspiring runners, we wouldn’t be able to fund life saving research that will end the devastation caused by heart and circulatory disease once and for all.

“I would like to thank all the British Heart Foundation champions who took part, those who supported our runners and all of our volunteers. The stories of why our amazing supporters take part never fails to amaze me and it’s always incredible to see thousands of people take on such a tough challenge and unite to help beat heartbreak forever.

“Around 7 million people in the UK are currently living with heart and circulatory diseases, such as stroke, diabetes, coronary heart disease and vascular dementia, and it is responsible for over 150,000 deaths each year. It is only because of the support of people who take on challenges like the Harewood House event that we can one day stop heart disease in its tracks.”

The Harewood House Half Marathon, 10K and 2K is one of more than 70 events taking place across the UK to help raise money for the BHF. To find out more visit bhf.org.uk/events.

One in four people in the UK and one in three globally die from heart and circulatory diseases. The British Heart Foundation says advances from its research have saved and improved millions of lives.