A FORMER Prestwich woman, whose family has a history of heart disease, has been inspired to become involved in a 5K charity fun run for the third successive year.

Donna McGregor', and members of her family, will be taking part in the Subway Helping Hearts 5K event at Heaton Park on Sunday (Sept 27).

The 34-year-old catering assistant, originally from Prestwich, has lost four and a half stone since her grandmother, Ida McGregor, died of a heart attack at the age of 80 in 2008. Ida had undergone a triple bypass a few years earlier.

She said: “The loss of my nan and knowing heart disease runs in my family didn’t initially encourage me to lose weight, but when I got pregnant I stopped smoking and shortly after my daughter was born I decided to begin a course to keep fit.”

Two years ago, Donna’s mum, sister and nieces attended the run at Heaton Park and had such a great family fun day, they spread the news throughout the family. This resulted in Donna, her daughter Charlotte Hanson who is now five, and Donna’s father joining the next year.

This time, Donna, Charlotte and Donna’s 14-year-old stepdaughter Daisy Anne Molyneaux will be taking on the 5K along with some of Donna’s friends and their children.

Donna added: “We had such a fantastic time last year I’ve asked my friends to join in this year with their kids. It is the most family friendly and fun race we have done.”

This is the third year of the Subway Helping Heart Family 5K in Heaton Park and the last of 12 events in the series, held across the UK from May to September, raising money for Heart Research UK.

It has an added element of fun this year, as a giant obstacle course over the final 500 metres can be tackled should participants wish.

For more information or to register for the event, which runs from 11am to 2pm: go to 5ksubway.com