THE years may have passed but for Joy Taylor the pain of losing her father to heart disease remains as vivid as ever.

That is why she became a recruit to a brigade of Santas who will be mobilising in Eastrop Park on Sunday, to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Forty-six-year-old mum Joy, of Kingfisher Close, Kempshott, Basingstoke, will be running the Santa Jog fundraiser in memory of her late father Johnnie Jelbert, from South View, who died 18 years ago, aged 69.

Joy admits she was a carefree twenty-something before her dad passed away, but the shock of his sudden death put her in touch with her own mortality and the threat of heart disease.

For her, keeping fit is now a priority, and she jumped at the chance to take part in the BHF event.

She said: “I wanted to make sure I didn’t have the same fate, and now I am in my 40s it is more relevant.”

Heart disease is the UK’s number one killer with 200,000 deaths each year and it can be hereditary.

Joy said: “I can exercise and keep myself healthy but it is also important to support the charity that is leading the fight against heart disease. It is a charity that feels so close to me.”

Joy hopes plenty of people of all ages will turn out in force for the second Basingstoke Santa Jog on Sunday.

Joy said: “I am encouraging everyone from Basingstoke to come along and take part. You don’t have to be fit – you just need to have fun and raise money.”

With just three days to go, organisers are making a heartfelt plea for more people to come along and join the joggers who have already pre-registered to take part. They hope to raise an army of 500 runners, joggers, or plodders.

Registration on the day is £15 for adults and £5 for children. Free Santa suits will still be available on the day for adults while under-14s are being asked to dress themselves in Christmas outfits.

Participants who raise £50 in sponsorship for the event will be entered into a free prize draw to win a Nintendo Wii.

BHF events manager Melanie Blackman said: “This is the ultimate fun run which will be an amazing sight to remember.

“It really is the perfect way to forget about the stresses of the festive period and show some true Christmas spirit.”

Registration and a performance by the Sing for Fun choir will start at 10am, followed by a warm sessions by Aquadrome fitness instructors before the jog gets under way at 11am.

For more information, call the BHF team on 0808 1002109 or go to bhf.org.uk/basingstokesantajog.