I AM writing to thank your readers for taking part in the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Bag It. Beat It. campaign throughout September, helping to generate more than a million bags of quality items and raise awareness of women and heart disease.

It is so shocking to think that there are 3.5 million women living with cardiovascular disease in the UK and that heart and circulatory disease nearly kills more women than all cancers combined.

Thanks to the overwhelming support from people, BHF shops across the north west have received 120,000 bags of unwanted items.

I have personally experienced the devastation heart disease can bring to a family, having lost both my dad and granddad to heart disease.

I was also incredibly shocked to learn that 9,100 women in the North West die of heart and circulatory disease each year.

The BHF is always in need of donations and would love to receive your unwanted items such as clothing, shoes, books and toys.

It even offers a free collection service. To find out more visit bhf.

org.uk/shops.

Gemma Atkinson Actress and BHF supporter