LAST July, Fiona Spence took a stand against heart disease by conquering 24 miles of hiking in 12 hours across Craven's famous peaks.

Now, the 39-year-old is urging other walkers to do their bit to support the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and take on its Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday, July 11.

The walk starts in Horton-on-Ribblesdale and covers 24 miles and 3,000ft of climbing. It takes in Penyghent, Whernside - with great views of the majestic Ribblehead Viaduct - and Ingleborough.

Fiona, who successfully raised almost £800 for the BHF, was one of the top fundraisers for the 2014 event. She decided to take on the challenge as a means to thank the charity for its contribution to the advancements in heart health that allowed her father to undergo an emergency triple heart bypass.

Fiona said: “It was a massive surprise as he was fit and active and had given no indication of heart problems despite being diabetic for a number of years.

“Since then he's also had several smaller procedures to regulate his heart rhythm and resolve other niggles. The research BHF funded has contributed to his care and recovery and meant that he has been around to see both myself and my sister marry, enjoy his young grandsons and generally enjoy life.”

Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer claiming more than 7,000 lives a year in Yorkshire and The Humber alone. A further 216,000 people are living with the disease in the region.

The BHF funds hundreds of pioneering research projects every year across the UK to put an end to the suffering that this disease causes and it is through the fundraising of its supporters that the charity is able to continue its lifesaving work.

Fiona started fundraising early by sending out emails to family, friends and colleagues, setting up a JustGiving website - justgiving.com/fidarling - and linking it to her signature on her email.

Fiona added: “Take any opportunity to stand up and shout about your plans - school events, village socials, work lunches, people in the street who commented on my frequent training runs as I passed them, and ask for donations. It is effective, but you need to take the cash when it is offered - don't say ‘later’, later never happens!”

Helen Wright, BHF event manager, said: “I would like to thank Fiona for taking on the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge and for being so creative with her fundraising. We ask everyone to raise £150 as minimum sponsorship, but it just goes to show you can raise a lot more when you put your mind to it.”

Entry for the challenge is £35, which just covers the cost of running the event.

To register, call 0845 130 8663 or visit bhf.org.uk/Y3P. Alternatively, you can also email the events team on events@bhf.org.uk