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Local MP Steps Up For Heart Disease

Joe Benton MP for Bootle today stepped up from the House of Commons green benches to support the fight against coronary heart disease.

At a Parliamentary meeting on coronary heart disease the MP supported the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) national challenge for people to step up and raise money for the charity’s Big Red Fightback campaign.

The top heart charity hopes that its sponsored step up challenge will not only raise vital funds to help fight back against heart disease – the UK’s single biggest killer – but will also help to improve the nation’s heart health.

To help reach its target of 100 million steps – the equivalent of climbing the world’s 100 highest mountains, 21 times – the BHF is encouraging MPs to shun lifts and escalators for the week and using the stairs instead.

Peter Hollins, Director General of the BHF, said:

“Throughout June people all around the country have been supporting the Big Red Fightback breaking their normal routines by taking more steps and getting sponsored for doing so. We are delighted that MPs have followed their constituents’ lead, and recognise the need to prioritise the fight against coronary heart disease – which remains Britain’s biggest single killer.”

Joe Benton MP for Bootle and Member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Heart Disease said:

“Taking part in regular aerobic activity, such as brisk walking, is a simple measure that can help halve the risk of developing heart disease. The All Party Group on Heart Disease hopes that now people have taken step up challenges they will realise how easy it can be to make long term healthy lifestyle changes.”

While statistics show that death rates from coronary heart disease are falling, the number of people living with the condition is increasing.