There are many reasons to start running and keep running. Most notably for your heart health and that’s why we are delighted to have launched a three year partnership with iconic running retailer, Up & Running. The running brand with heart.
Together, Up & Running and Heart Research UK will inspire people to take up running, and keep running, to help prevent heart disease, taking a powerful message about the benefits of running into local communities.
Up & Running is the UK’s largest independent running retailer, serving local communities across the UK. Founded in 1992 by Gillian and Dennis Macfarlane, they are a family business, offering 30 years of specialist running knowledge, advice and expertise.
Staff provide outstanding customer service tailored to each individual customer’s needs, recommending the best quality products, tried and tested by runners, for runners.
Their 29 retail stores have grown organically over the years, and they pride themselves on being an integral part of your local running community – to keep you motivated and achieving, no matter what your running goals are.
Gillian Macfarlane, Founder of Up & Running said,
We’re excited to embark on the partnership with Heart Research UK. We have a lot of shared values with the charity when it comes to encouraging people of all fitness levels to exercise regularly and enjoy the benefits of an active lifestyle. During the partnership, we hope to raise awareness of heart health and the fantastic work that Heart Research UK do, as well as much needed funds for the charity. ”
We know research works, and we also know that sometimes, even the fittest people can receive a heart disease diagnosis.
Meet Alex, store manager at Up & Running’s Teddington store in London.
Alex has been a member of the team for over 6 years. He was recently diagnosed with a biscupid valve and a dilated aortic root. He considered himself a young, fit, healthy runner with a marathon debut time of 2:33 minutes. He recounts his story, from feeling something wasn’t right, through to being told he needed open heart surgery all within a whirlwind of a week! ”
Aligning entirely with our mission to reduce the number of people developing and dying from heart disease, while improving and extending the lives of those affected, this is a truly purposeful partnership.
