14 April 2004

Running for healthy hearts for the third time

Still racing to save people's hearts even in the run up to his retirement, Professor Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe (64) at the University of Dundee will run his third London marathon on Sunday 18th April hoping to beat 4 hours 40 minutes.

Professor Tunstall-Pedoe is a world expert on cardiovascular disease and recently published the world's biggest study into heart disease. He is also one of the leading researchers at TICR - The Institute for Cardiovascular Research at the University of Dundee and will be raising money for TICR and the British Heart Foundation.

Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe ran the first London Marathon in 1981 in 4 hours 8 minutes. He did not run another until 2002 when he ran the London Marathon again for the TICR appeal in 4h 40min. His twin brother Dan is the London Marathon's Medical Director.

In 2004, now aged 64, Hugh is running his third London Marathon, seeking sponsorship both for TICR and for the British Heart Foundation which is the lead charity this year, and has supported his research projects over the last decade.

Hugh Tunstall-Pedoe is Professor and Director of the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, of the University of Dundee, responsible for the Scottish Heart Health Study, and playing a leading role in the Scottish MONICA for MONItoring CArdiovascular disease Project and the World Health Organization MONICA Project. He has recently edited a book on the latter describing heart disease, stroke and risk factors around the world.

Anyone wishing to sponsor his 2004 Marathon for TICR should call 01382 632283, or e-mail j.s.gibson@dundee.ac.uk or download the form [word doc]. For British Heart Foundation see personal webpage www.bhf.org.uk/sponsor/hughtunstall-pedoe

By Angela Durcan, Press Officer 01382 344768, out of hours: 07968298585, a.durcan@dundee.ac.uk