Heart charity gears up for biggest fundraising event yet

The charity Heartbeat is set to host its largest fundraising event ever, with more than 2,000 participants anticipated.

The charity aims to raise awareness and funds for heart health with the Heart & Stroll event, inspired by Heartbeat CEO, Mark Ind, whose son Alex was born with a heart condition.

The event, scheduled for June 29, 2025, is backed by Robbie Burns, 53, a heart transplant recipient and Trustee of Heartbeat, who underwent two open heart surgeries as a child.

Mr Burns said: "My health deteriorated to the point where I was placed on the transplant list in 2019.

"I received the all-important call in June of 2020, the day of my wedding anniversary, that I was to receive a heart transplant the following day. It was a hugely emotional time and a lot to process.

"I want to encourage as many people as possible to walk in honour of someone who is living with a heart condition, knows someone who has, or simply just to connect with others and make new friends."

Proceeds will aid the Wessex Cardiac Unit at University Hospital Southampton, offering care to patients from Birmingham to Guernsey.

Mr Ind said: "My work here at the charity has meant an enormous amount to me, one of the things that has struck me the most is that when you start talking about heart health, everyone knows someone who has been affected. It’s about coming together to be a community and to look after each other.

"Our Heartbeat team want to encourage as many people as possible to join us for a walk around Southampton Common as part of Heart & Stroll next year.

"The joy of this, is that it truly is for everyone. Heart & Stroll is just that, we want people to focus and think about how they can look after their heart by taking part in this gentle exercise, but also give people the space to think about loved ones effected by heart disease and to take the time to raise a bit of money for the cardiac unit, but to also have fun."