ALTON’S Cardiac Rehab Staywell programme has been given a boost of a £1,000 grant from the James Scott Memorial Fund, part of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Community Foundation.

The Staywell programme uses tailored exercise and health education to combat heart disease, prevent heart attacks and change the lives of those at risk.

Heart and circulatory diseases cause more than a quarter of deaths in the UK each year – that’s one death every three minutes.

Rehab wants to extend the reach of this work and help even more people through the Staywell prevention programme.

People like Alton resident Graham, who says the ten-week programme has transformed his health and fitness levels by reducing his blood pressure, cholesterol and sugars – plus he has lost 10cm around his waistline.