Alton FC will raise money for Cardiac Rehab during the 2025-26 football season.

Cardiac Rehab will celebrate 50 years of supporting the health and well-being of people with heart disease, cancer, pulmonary disease and long Covid in 2026.

Alton chairman Carl Saunders said: “We are delighted that Cardiac Rehab will be our first ever local charity partner.

“Throughout the season we’ll be encouraging our players, members and supporters to raise funds for this fantastic local charity who help local people back to health through exercise.”

Cardiac Rehab provides exercise, education and peer support to lengthen and improve the lives of those with, or at risk of, heart disease.

It began in 1976 as one of the UK’s first cardiac rehabilitation units and moved to its Chawton Park Road exercise centre in 1997.

Chief executive Sarah Quarterman said: ‘This charity partnership with Alton will help us raise awareness and vital funds to support our work.

“We are closely aligned with the NHS, and receive referrals from local doctors and clinicians, but we are not funded by the NHS and so rely on fundraising to keep costs down for our exercisers.

“We provide over 60 hours of classes and circuit-based sessions each week. Every penny raised or donated during this season will be used to help more local people lengthen their healthy lives and improve well-being.”

Manager Denise Ellis said: “I’m excited to confirm that we’re launching the partnership with a great challenge.

“We will be at the Alton ground throughout the day on September 13 and we’re challenging players, families and supporters to help us row the 60km distance between the club ground and Wembley.

“We’ll have two of our rowing machines at the club and we’ll be collecting donations from the rowers and those cheering them on. It promises to be a great day of fun and community spirit.”