A DORSET man who has a dangerous heart rhythm disorder is urging people to donate to the British Heart Foundation.

Builder Richard Elgar, 43, was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) last September.

More than a million people in the UK now live with AF, including 105,355 in the South West. AF is a dangerous heart rhythm disorder that increases the risk of stroke five-fold, according to new figures from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The BHF is the UK’s biggest funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases and Dorset residents are being urged to help out by organising a Ramp up the Red party on February 7 to raise funds.

The father-of-two, said: “More research, funded by the BHF’s campaign, could help find better ways of treating people like me and make sure my family stays together.”

Visit bhf.org.uk/red or call 0800 0316 316 to sign up today.