IT is more than six months since Cardiac Rehab launched its Have a Heart campaign, in celebration of its 40th anniversary, and the team is pulling out all the stops to reach its fundraising target of £200,000.

The aim is to raise £5,000 for each year of service, to enable the charity to benefit more people who are at risk of heart disease, and to shout about its remarkable success.

Based behind Alton Sports Centre in Chawton Park Road, Cardiac Rehab is playing its part in helping those with and those at risk of heart disease, manage and control the risk factors.

Heart disease remains one of the UK’s single biggest killers, with 1 in 4 affected, and on average in the UK 200 people a day dying as a result.

As part of the campaign, Cardiac Rehab also aims to increase the average number of new entrants to its programmes from 100 to 250 per year, but to be able to do all this, it needs to raise more funds.

Martin Lovell general manager of Cardiac Rehab said: “We started the campaign with the aim to raise £200,000, which is a big ask, however, we receive no government money, nor NHS, local or national government.

“So we are totally reliant on the generosity of the public at large to enable us to deliver the improvements to heart health, fitness and well-being to those with or at risk of heart disease.”

Among the businesses that have pledged to help the charity as it bids to reach its ambitious target is The Anchor Inn at Lower Froyle. It has chosed Cardiac Rehab as its charity partner for the coming years and is set to start its fundraising activities with a family barbecue and beer festival, complete with live music and entertainment for the whole family, on Bank Holiday Monday (August 29).

The event is free and starts at noon.

Kiran, manager of The Anchor said :“We hope that we get a full house for this fundraiser that helps us give a great start to our fundraising year for Cardiac Rehab. It is such a great local charity, we are delighted to be able to do our part in helping them, to help more people who benefit most from what they do.”

Martin Lovell added “We can’t thank enough Kiran, Daisy and all the staff for getting behind us and helping us spread the word about how important this is, and the very real difference the money raised makes in helping to change lives. We hope everyone has a great day – we really appreciate the support, it makes a real and positive difference.”

If you would like to know more about cardiac rehab, heart disease and the risk factors visit

www.cardiac-rehab.co.uk or call Dr Sally Turner on 01420 544794