RESIDENTS are invited to ditch the slippers and take part in a health walk against the country's biggest killer.

Friendship group St Helens and Warrington Oddfellows is asking people to take action against coronary heart disease in the free healthy heart walk.

Led by event partners St Helens Healthy Living, the family friendly stroll will take place on Monday, June 5 starting at 12.45pm from outside St Helens Town Hall on Victoria Square.

Julie Webster, Oddfellows social organiser, said: “Research from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) shows that by being active a few times a day, for even just 10 minutes, can be as influential on your health as giving up smoking or maintaining a balanced diet.

"But we all know how difficult it can be to take that first step towards getting more exercise, and incorporating it into your daily routine.

“Whatever your fitness level, our stroll around the town centre to Fosters Park is all about getting you moving in a fun and friendly way. "And it’s all for a good cause too as we’ll be fundraising for the BHF along the way!”

The walk ends at the Oddfellows' North Road base and will be followed by light refreshments. St Helens Healthy Living is also hosting a number of free healthy lifestyle presentations at the destination venue from 1pm, for those who do not wish to take part in the walk.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) – heart and circulatory – is the cause of more than a quarter (26 per cent) of all deaths in the UK with nearly 160,000 deaths each year.

Katherine Stybelski, fundraising manager for the British Heart Foundation, added: “The Oddfellows’ activities set an excellent example of how everyone can help themselves by taking exercise in a fun and social way. We hope the event inspires people to take that all-important 10 minutes of activity each day. It really does make the difference in preventing and managing heart disease.”

To book your place and find out more about the Oddfellows’ healthy heart walk call Julie on 01744 895 536, email julie.webster@oddfellows.co.uk