Valentine’s Day is not just about the heart you may find on a card this week.
A Northeast charity is using the special day of love to romance as many people as possible into looking after their own heart whilst raising much-needed funds to tackle heart disease.
The Heart of the Tyne group is looking for passionate individuals and companies to a 60,000-step challenge – in just 1 week – to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.
The challenge begins on Sunday the 10th of March with teams from companies or groups of individuals all welcome to take part and it’s hoped each challenger can raise at least £60.
As part of the week, David Brind and Stuart Jackson from the Heart of the Tyne team will embark on a 100-mile walking challenge of their own along the Northumberland coast – from Tweed to Tyne. Their adventure begins on Wednesday 13th March and will see them pass through Seahouses, Amble and Blyth before finishing at Tynemouth on Saturday the 16th.
And with Northumbrian properties conveniently located along the route, award-winning pubco The Inn Collection Group will be supporting the walkers by providing them with an overnight halt at The Bamburgh Castle Inn, The Amble Inn and The Commissioners Quay Inn.
Stuart said “Walking is a great way of keeping your heart healthy and also release from the mental strains of day-to-day life. By setting up this challenge we not just to raise money but to encourage many people to think about the day-to-day little steps that can be taken to improve our region’s heart health and mental wellbeing.”
Andrew Robson from the Inn Collection said, “We are proud to support this fantastic cause. We often find walkers using our Inns as an ideal stopover or place for lunch during a day hike and it will be a pleasure to support David and Stuart as they walk down the beautiful Northumberland Coastline.”
Having stayed at three inns during the challenge, the walk will culminate with a fanfare finish at The Tynemouth Castle Inn on Saturday afternoon.
During the walk David and Stuart will be supported by other members of the BHF team and on Saturday they will be joined by players from Newcastle Falcons and members of the Newcastle Rugby Foundation team who have pledged their time and support for the cause.
Melanie Magee head of the Newcastle Rugby Foundation said, “The Falcons and the Foundation through our Falcons Fit programme have a great history with the Heart of the Tyne team and the players jumped at the chance to give something back and support the walk as they cross the finish line.”
Over the last three years the Heart of the Tyne team has raised over £100,000 for the British Heart Foundation and anyone or any company wanting to join the 60,000-step challenge can do so by contacting Emily Petitjean [email protected]
Groups can also choose to attend the last two days of the walk by contacting Emily Petitjean [email protected]
If you would like to donate to this fantastic cause, please click here
