Clare Simpson, a 21-year-old hairdresser, from Arncliffe Road, Heysham, and Nick, a 24-year-old sports student at the University of Central Lanca-shire, are taking part in the 10k run on Sunday, May 18, in aid of the Cardiomyopathy Association.

Both Clare's boyfriend Matt-hew Brown, a 23 year-old graphic designer, and his father Michael, a 47-year-old textile worker, are affected by hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease that causes the heart muscle to enlarge.

It is the biggest medical cause of sudden death in the under 35s but if diagnosed can usually be treated successfully.

The disease was identified in the family by chance when Michael went into hospital for a minor, unconnected operation.

Because the condition usually runs in families, his children Matthew and Ashley, who were seven and four at the time, began regular checks.

When Matthew was 15 he was found to be developing the condition and has had an internal defibrillator fitted, which will shock his heart if it goes into a life-threatening rhythm.

His and Clare's baby son Lewis will also have regular checks as he grows older.

Clare, who used to run for her school, and Nick, who was a fitness instructor before going to university, are hoping to raise more than £750 for the Cardiomyopathy Association, a charity which offers information and support to families affected by cardiomyopathy and funds medical care.

Matthew's mother Andrea, a 45-year-old nursery nurse, recently launched a cardiomyopathy support group in Morecambe to help other people affected by the condition.

* To sponsor Clare and Nick, log on to the www.justgiving.com/
claresimpson2 website.

For more information about cardiomyopathy, simply visit www.cardiomyopathy.org or call the Cardiomyopathy Associat-ion on Freefone 0800 0181 024.