A University of Manchester professor is urging the city’s cyclists to join in the Manchester to Blackpool Night Ride to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation on September 26.
Professor Giulio Cossu, a British Heart Foundation (BHF) funded researcher at the University, is urging people to join in with the bike ride to support the charity’s life saving medical research.
Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer – in the North West alone 3,000 people are prematurely killed from heart attacks each year.
The BHF’s Physical Activity Statistics 2015 found that fewer than 60% of men and 50% of women do not meet the recommended physical activity guidelines in the North West, making it the worst area in the country.
The bike rides, sponsored by Tesco, are happening across the world from London to Tanzania, and Mr Cossu stressed that support was needed to help make the breakthroughs that could save lives.
“Donations power our research so we’re enormously grateful to all the BHF’s supporters whose pedaling brings in the pounds,” he said.
“We’ve been making good progress in the lab here in Manchester but it’s only with continued support for our research that we can turn our discoveries into treatments for people living with heart failure.
“I’m hugely proud of being funded by the BHF and everyone who signs up for this challenge should feel equal pride in the difference they’re making for people with heart conditions.”
The event is open to anyone over 18 years old and will begin at the Trafford Centre in Manchester on the Saturday.
The route will travel through the Lancashire countryside before arriving at the bright lights of Blackpool.
The BHF are actively funding research in Manchester with £195,469 at Manchester Metropolitan University, £250,000 at Manchester Medical Research Council and £16,350,973 at the University of Manchester.
