Big-hearted celebrities including Gemma Atkinson, Kate Thornton and Melanie Sykes have taken part in a glamorous photo shoot to show their support for the British Heart Foundation.
They were joined by Amanda Byram, Angellica Bell and Glynis Barber, who all looked sensational in red designer gowns to help raise awareness of women and heart disease as part of the charity’s Bag It. Beat It. campaign.
Luxurious dresses for the photos came from Stella McCartney, Amanda Wakeley and Catherine Walker, with celebrated fashion photographer Elisabeth Hoff shooting the images.
Actress Gemma said: “It is a charity so close to my heart after losing my dad and granddad to heart disease. The shoot day was really emotional for me but I couldn’t be more proud and thankful to the British Heart Foundation.
“I was also shocked to learn that there are around 3.5 million women living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK. It’s only through the BHF’s pioneering heart research that we can help prevent women suffering from and losing their lives to heart disease. Please support this vital research by donating any unwanted items to your local BHF shop and help to Bag It. Beat It. this September.”
Despite 76,000 UK women dying of heart and circulatory diseases each year, accounting for a quarter of all female deaths, people often still see it as being a male health problem.
TV presenter Kate said: “As a mother, it is horrible to think that heart disease is cutting short the time that many women have with their children as well as their partner and friends.”
Daytime presenter Melanie said: “Coronary heart disease kills more than twice as many women in the UK as breast cancer. It’s so important that we raise awareness among women that heart disease doesn’t discriminate and that we should all take the time to get to know how to reduce our risk.”
You can take part in the BHF campaign by donating unwanted clothes, accessories, books and other items to one of the charity’s shops, to be sold to raise money for the fight against heart disease.
There’s more information at www.bhf.org.uk/bagit.
