A 24 YEAR-OLD woman who lost her father to a heart attack in 2007 is taking on a 13.1 mile-long challenge for the British Heart Foundation.

The charity's Harewood House Half Marathon and 10km run takes place on February 26 will see Harriet Mackie, of Harrogate, lacing up her trainers to raise money for the BHF’s life saving research into heart disease.

Harriet has set up a justgiving page to start raising funds in memory of her dad Iain Mackie, and now hopes to inspire other runners to sign up to the BHF’s Harewood House Half marathon and10km running event.

Harriet said “I want to raise money to help fund the BHF’s vital research into heart disease. Heart disease affects so many families so it’s hard not to want to support the work of such a fantastic charity.

“My dad died when he was just 51-years-old and I want to do as much as I can to help stop such a tragedy happening to someone else. The run will be tough, but I’m really looking forward to the big day.”

Helen Wright, Fundraising Event Manager for the BHF’s Harewood House Half Marathon and 10km event said: “It is great to have Harriet taking on The BHF’s Harewood House Half Marathon.

“In the UK, one person every three minutes will die from heart and circulatory disease and it is responsible for over 14,000 deaths in Yorkshire and the Humber each year. It’s only through our supporters, like Harriet, that we can fund more research and see its burden decrease."

Helen added: “This year’s event will be bigger and better as we have introduced a brand new 10k event. We already have over 1700 supporters signed up to take on one of the two events and we hope everyone will set up a just giving page and fundraise as much as they can for the BHF’s life saving research, to help find new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent heart disease. We ask that everyone tries to raise at least £10 per mile that they run on the day.”

To join Harriet and take on the Harewood House Half Marathon and 10k for the BHF, call the events team on 0845 130 8663 or visit bhf.org.uk/harewood. Alternatively, email the events team on events@bhf.org.uk.

Harriet has set up a just giving page and to sponsor her please visit their just giving page www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Harriet-Mackie2017

Entry fees for the Half Marathon are £30 and entry is open to over 17s only. The entry fee for the 10k is £24 and is open to over 16s. This is a fundraising event and everyone is encouraged to try and raise £10 for every mile they complete.