Greg Hemphill, the star of the BBC's Chewin' the Fat, will be "losin' the fat" when he joins the Fit and Fifty raising funds to fight heart disease today, Tuesday 26 February at 11am in the Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow.

Greg, who is the Rector of the University, will be encouraging members of the University's 50+ group staging an aerobics session to launch the public appeal for the British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre.

The Centre will be built at the University of Glasgow. It will provide state-of-the-art experimental and clinical facilities to further research into the UK's No1 killer illness, cardiovascular disease, which accounts for one in five deaths. Glasgow has the highest incidence of coronary heart disease in the country.

The British Heart Foundation, which is the largest independent funder of heart research in the UK, has supported the project with a £5 million donation. The University is working in partnership with the BHF to raise the appeal total.

The Fit & Fifty roadshow at the Buchanan Galleries will be the first in a series of events around the city to raise funds for the BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre. Information will be available regarding heart disease and how to prevent it and shoppers will be encouraged to take part in the exercise display.

The 50+ group, which is organised by the University's Sport & Recreation Service is one of a number of initiatives aimed at encouraging exercise in the wider community.

BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre

The statistics:
￟ The statistics surrounding cardiovascular disease are shocking: it is the biggest killer in the UK, accounting for one in 5 deaths - and Glasgow has the highest incidence of coronary heart disease in the country.

￟ Although mortality rates have been falling since the early 1970s thanks to developments in prevention and treatment, the rate of death in the UK is still amongst the highest in the world with approximately 125,000 people dying each year from cardiovascular disease.

The Centre:
￟ The BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre will provide state-of-the-art experimental and clinical facilities to further research into cardiovascular disease.

￟ The total project cost is £10.8 million. The British Heart Foundation has already given £5 million to the project and the University has given £2 million. £3.8 million is still to be raised to complete the project.

￟ The proximity of a clinical investigation unit to modern laboratories will greatly enhance the integration of research and clinical practice, enabling patients to benefit more rapidly from work at the cutting edge of cardiovascular disease research.

￟ The Centre aims to have a local, national and international impact upon health and welfare.

￟ The new Centre will be constructed on a high profile site on the University's main campus in the heart of Glasgow's West End, next to the new Medical School building which is nearing completion.

The Appeal:
￟ The fundraising campaign is being co-ordinated by the Development and Alumni Office at the University of Glasgow.

￟ With the help of a fund-raising committee, the appeal will be taken to trust funds and foundations, companies, schools and community organisations and our own graduates, as well as the general public.

￟ There are naming opportunities associated with gifts. Donors' gifts will be recognised through a Gifted Scheme, which allows gifts of £250 and over to be named in perpetuity

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

* The photocall will take place between 11am and 11.30am, Tuesday 26 February in the Buchanan Galleries, North Atrium, First Floor (outside John Lewis). That is the floor above the Information Desk.

* The BHF Roadshow will run from 11am to 2pm.

* For information about the BHF Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre Appeal, please contact Kirsty Craig, Development and Alumni Office, University of Glasgow, tel: 0141 330 2503.

* Further information from the Press Office on 0141 330 3535.

First published: 26 February 2002