Stowmarket Striders Running Club is backing the fundraising efforts of My WiSH Charity’s Every Heart Matters appeal.

The club is hoping their weekly summer trail runs will act as a boost to the campaign, which is aiming to raise £500,000 to complete a new cardiac centre at West Suffolk Hospital, in Bury St Edmunds.

They take place every Wednesday evening over a five to six-mile countryside course, with a donation of £2 being made towards the charity.

The idea to raise money for the appeal came from Mike Munson, who co-ordinates the runs and has suffered a series of heart problems over the years which culminated in a double heart bypass in February at St George’s Hospital, in Tooting.

The 65-year-old, who lives in The Grove, Stowmarket, said: “It’s incredibly important to have the unit at West Suffolk as it is so awkward getting to other hospitals on public transport. For me I can walk out from where I live and just get on a bus to Bury.

“I decided I wanted to help the appeal as it made sense to get as much done locally as possible as I remember the difficulty getting to Papworth when I was not allowed to drive.

He is now waiting to carry out his rehab course following his operation.

He said: “At about 50 I was running a 10km when I noticed an amazing loss of energy. I had to be driven home as I was exhausted and was diagnosed as atrial fibulation (AF).”

Then in June last year he entered the Stour Valley Marathon.

“I was running reasonably well but at 24-miles I collapsed. I got up and was accompanied over a couple of styles but at 25 miles I collapsed face down. I had a further seizure in the ambulance and another in Colchester A&E,” he said.

“I was doing a 20 mile walk in Surrey, in February, when I collapsed and the defibrillator kicked in. I was taken to the Royal Surrey Hospital, in Guildford, had an angiogram and I had a double bypass at St Georges, Tooting, on February 22.”

Anyone who wants to take part can turn up at the venues, between 6pm and 7.30pm, available at www.stowmarketstriders.org.uk/summer-trail-runsFor more on the Every Heart Matters appeal visit www.mywishcharity.co.uk