A FORMER heart attack victim from Huby is aiming to ski his way into the record books to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation.

Neil Muffitt, who was just 39 years old when he suffered a heart attack two years ago, has called on like minded friends and family to help him ski as many French slopes as possible in just one week.

But if he is to achieve his ultimate goal of skiing every open piste in the French Alps in the time he needs to find more skiers.

Mr Muffitt, 41,who dreamed up the Heart Feat Ski2000 challenge while recovering from surgery to repair a collapsed artery, said: "This is an extraordinary event which has never been attempted before.

"It will involve taking 2,000 lifts and skiing down 3,000 pistes in order to cover the 4,000 miles of runs which make up the massive French alpine ski area."

He said it was the kind of challenge that would appeal to people with a spirit of adventure.

"Although every participant needs to be able to ski, we are looking for all levels of ability. It will be just as important to find people who want to cover the easy blues, as those who are eager for the excitement of the black runs," he added. Mr Muffitt, a company director, married with a seven-year-old daughter, says he is interested in finding out more about heart defects.

As a keen amateur sportsman with a regular keep fit regime who did not smoke, his heart attack was completely unexpected.

It was while he was in hospital that it was discovered heart disease was prevalent on his father's side of the family.

"I had what was known as inherited predisposition to cardiac problems, so anything which will help doctors identify people who are at risk and prescribe preventative regimes is crucial to the future health and wellbeing of others like me and my family," said Mr Muffitt.

People interested in taking part in the challenge can either join one of the teams in the Alps from March 11 to March 18 or by taking part in Virtual Heart Feat, using a supplied skidometer to clock up miles during their own skiing holiday in France.

Everyone will be asked to raise sponsorship money of which every penny will go towards the BHF's national heart research centre, based in Leeds.

The money will be split between two appeals - a family heart study which is seeking to identify the genes responsible for heart disease, and the running of a newly installed MRI interventional scanner at Leeds General infirmary.

A brochure containing more details and a booking form is available from the British Heart Foundation, 4-6 Bridge Street, Tadcaster, North Yorks. LS24 9AL. Telephone (01937) 835421.

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