Pounding the streets for British Heart Foundation charity

Two runners were among 350 British Heart Foundation champions who conquered the London Marathon to raise funds for the charity’s life-saving research.

Wing Than, 41, from Southwark, raised an incredible £8,000. She took on the iconic challenge in memory of her dad, Tim, who died in his early 70s from a stroke.

She signed up for marathon in October 2019 and has been training and looking forward to the marathon for a long time.

Wing set herself the huge task of trying to raise £10,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

She wants to thank all her work colleagues, friends and family who have donated so far, and say a big thank you to her boyfriend, Mark, for supporting her on the day.

Wing said: “Taking part in the London Marathon was a huge challenge and an incredible experience. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s been a long wait to get to the start line and I’m proud of what I’ve achieved and the money I’ve raised for the British Heart Foundation.

The atmosphere on the day was electric and I want to say thank you to all the amazing people on the sidelines cheering me on. They really inspire you to keep going and put a smile on your face.

“Knowing that the money I have raised   will help the British Heart Foundation raise vital funds for life-saving research for people in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases was also a huge motivator.”

Greenwich resident Lucy Acfield was another of 350 British Heart Foundation (BHF) champions.

She took on the iconic challenge so she could tick running a marathon off her bucket list. Lucy said: “Running a marathon is something I’ve always wanted to do so I thought I should finally put my money where my mouth is.

“I wanted to raise money for the British Heart Foundation as it’s a charity close to my family’s heart. My older sister, Sophie, was born with a heart condition, and sadly died when she was seven months old.

“She would have been 43 this year. Both my grandfathers also died following heart attacks.”

Lucy ran her first marathon in 4hrs 42mins minutes.

This is the first time since April 2019 that the iconic event has taken place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and more than 100 BHF champions took part in the race virtually alongside the BHF runners who pounded 26.2 miles of the capital’s streets.

The event comes as the BHF seeks to recover its income in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Last year the charity saw its income cut in half, after nearly all its fundraising events were cancelled and its shops were forced to close for months on end.

So far, BHF London Marathon runners have raised more than £911,000, which will go towards improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of heart and circulatory diseases, which currently affect more than 7.6 million people in the UK.

Lizzie Moscardini, events manager at the BHF, said: “It’s fantastic to see their determination and courage in helping the British Heart Foundation raise life-saving funds for people living with heart and circulatory diseases.

“The stories of why our amazing supporters take part never fail to amaze me and it was incredible to be back at this legendary event, cheering Win and our other BHF runners on.

“It’s thanks to the commitment of people like Win, that the BHF has been able to continue to fund ground breaking discoveries including pacemakers and genetic testing for inherited heart conditions that help transform lives.”

To sign up to run for the BHF in next year’s London Marathon, visit  www.bhf.org.uk/londonmarathon2022.ni