Sheffield Chamber stepping up for healthy hearts

12th February 2013

A pair of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce employees will take to the stairs to raise money for charity.

George Fullerton, account manager, and Kate Stephenson, events manager at Sheffield Chamber, are taking part in the Take the Stairs challenge, which is organised by the British Heart Foundation (BHF). Both will be among hundreds of participants running up 390 steps in the University of Sheffield's Arts Tower on 24 February. The event aims to raise cash and awareness for the BHF, which is organising a number of fundraising activities throughout February as part of National Heart Month. Sheffield's Arts Tower is the second tallest building with 20 floors rising 70 meters into the sky. George, 39, from High Storrs, hopes his participation will encourage other businesses to do the same. He said: -I am fully committed to train to get the best time I can and raise as much money as possible. -Being active is an important part of my commitment to get healthy and I am really looking forward to this event - it promises to be hard but I will be glad when I achieve the top floor and see that view! The Take the Stairs challenge is in its second year and hundreds of people are expected to take part. Runners set off individually in short intervals and can take in stunning views from the top whilst collecting their medal on completing the task. George is calling on local businesses to enter teams in the challenge, where staff can focus on having fun, raising heart rates and generating life-saving funds. Stuart Heslington, BHF event organiser, said: -National Heart Month is a great opportunity for everyone to think about how many lives are affected by heart disease. We offer our heartfelt thanks to George for so generously dedicating his time and energy to help us continue our fight for every heartbeat and hope lots more businesses will be inspired to enter teams. There are over 2.7 million people in the UK currently suffering with heart disease and it is the UK's single biggest killer.  It kills one in six men and one in nine women and is responsible for almost 80,000 deaths in the UK each year - an average of 220 people each day. National Heart Month is a time when the BHF urges people in the UK to think about their hearts and the hearts of those around them. It is also a time when the charity encourages supporters to fundraise and help the charity's fight against heart disease. To register for the Take the Stairs challenge, go to www.bhf.org.uk/takethestairschallenge To sponsor George Fullerton & Kate Stephenson, go to http://www.justgiving.com/George-Fullerton1