HEART UK is the UK's only cholesterol charity, providing support, information and influencing services for families and health professionals.

Cholesterol is a type of blood fat (lipid).  We all need some cholesterol in our blood to stay healthy, but too much can lead to serious health problems in the future, including vascular dementia, heart attacks and strokes.  Anyone can have high cholesterol - even if you are young, slim, eat well and exercise.  That's because high cholesterol can be caused by different things.  It can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle, but it can be genetic too.

The Greenwich Runners are supporting HEART UK this year, as their work has directly supported some of our runners.  Four current Greenwich Runners have an inherited genetic condition called Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) which, if untreated, can lead to a premature death.  

Fortunately, our four runners know about their condition and are receiving treatment, but some people are unaware that they have this.  Heart UK are campaigning for children to be screened, as there are an estimated 56,000 children with FH,  but we know about less than 1,000 of them.  In identifying the affected children it is then possible to also identify affected parents who may be unaware that they have FH.

"My husband was diagnosed with FH a few years ago.  He was unaware he had the condition.  Fortunately, he is now receiving treatment, but without the life saving medication he takes every day, things could have been very different for us.  If left untreated, the cholesterol condition he has can lead to death at a very young age.  Our children  (aged 8 and 10) have recently been tested through a simple blood test and fortunately, we found out this week that they have not inherited the condition.  Children who inherit FH from both parents can die in their early twenties. "  

Sarah Foster, Greenwich Runners Coach and 12ks Event Organiser, November 2021.

Please help us by donating what you can to support this lifesaving work.  If you are entering the 12ks of running challenge, there is a suggested minimum donation of £10 per 16+ entrant and £5 for accompanied under 16s.

If you are not a Greenwich Runner and would like details of the 12ks challenge and finale pub crawl (all are welcome), please email your details to: 12ksofchristmas@gmail.com to ensure we can keep in touch with all the details.