Beauty queen to use pedal power for heart charity (From Swindon Advertiser)

Beauty queen to use pedal power for heart charity

6:19pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in News By Emma Dunn

A BEAUTY queen is using pedal power to help raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Emily Cooper, 24, who is Miss Swindon Galaxy, is raising funds for the charity as part of a campaign being run by Nuffield Health Fitness and Wellbeing Centre in Greenbridge.

Staff and members are walking, running, rowing or cycling 29k in 29 days as part of National Heart Month.

“We are trying to get as many staff and members involved as possible. As soon as I found out I thought I have got to get in there,” said Emily.

“I try to keep fit and healthy so it is a bonus to raise money at the same time.”

February is National Heart Month and the charity is urging people to raise funds for them.

Emily, who is the duty manager of Nuffield Health, said: “So far I have raised £30 but I am hoping to raise a lot more.

“I am going to try and get as many people as possible to try and give as much or as little as they can.

“The challenge can be as hard or as easy as you make it. It depends on how much you want to push yourself. You could just do the distance but if you want to push yourself you can because the idea is to get fit and healthy at the same time.”

Emily has completed 5k so far, which took her about 10 minutes.

“I think it is a fun thing to do. It is getting people to realised that health is an important thing at at the same time raising money for the British Heart Foundation which is a really good cause.”

British Heart Foundation is also urging people to wear red on February 24 as part of their fundraising for the month.

Alison Rosier, BHF fundraising and volunteer manager in Swindon, said: “We need to raise vital funds in Swindon to help care for people with heart disease, to support their families, to campaign on their behalf and to fund pioneering research to save lives.

“And, if you think about it, most of us know someone affected by heart disease. That’s why we’re asking everyone to go Red for Heart and raise money.

“Please help – we need your donations or time and money now.”

To join the Nuffield’s 29k in 29 days phone 01793 422211 or visit reception.

To fundraise for the charity visit www.bhf.org.uk/red.