A CHARITY darts tournament has raised more than £5,000 for the British Heart Foundation.

The annual tournament marked its ten year anniversary this year.

Julie Horton, from Garnant, organised the 10th anniversary darts tournament in memory of her son Lee and to help British Heart Foundation Cymru (BHF) beat heartbreak forever.

Julie tragically lost her son Lee to a heart condition in 2008 shortly after his 18th birthday. In memory of her son, Julie set up an annual darts tournament in 2009 and also set up a BHF Gift of hope page raising more than £5000 for BHF over the past 10 years. Other local charities have also benefited from the darts tournament during this time.

Julie Horton said: "I would like to thank everyone who has helped and supported the darts tournament in memory of Lee over the past 10 years. It means so much to me. I set up the Gift of hope page to raise money for the British Heart Foundation to help them fund research into heart diseases so other families don’t have to go through the devastation we have in losing Lee."

The BHF funds research into heart and circulatory conditions, including heart diseases, stroke and vascular dementia, along with risk factors including diabetes.

Jayne Lewis BHF Cymru’s Fundraising Manager for South West Wales said: “I would like to thank Julie and also everyone who has helped and supported this fantastic event over the past 10 years. Heart and circulatory diseases kill one in four people in Wales which is devastating. BHF Cymru is funding pioneering research, to find vital treatments for people living with these conditions. Too many lives are lost in Wales each year, and we’re determined to do everything we can to help the 340,000 people across Wales who are fighting a daily battle with heart and circulatory disease. Thanks to Julie’s support, BHF can continue to fund research into these conditions.’

If you would like to support the Gift of hope page go to giftofhope.bhf.org.uk/In-Memory/LeeHorton. Or if you would help BHF Cymru help beat heartbreak forever, please contact lewisja@bhf.org.uk or 01554 891 500 or go to bhf.org.uk