CLOSE to £6,000 has been raised by two women with parents struck down by cardiovascular conditions.

Five years ago Amber Heard’s dad, Nicky, died of a heart attack shortly after recovering from a seven year battle with the often deadly bowel cancer.

The chauffeur, who lived in Loughton for six years before his death, left behind a son and daughter at the age of just 57.

Miss Heard's close friend and colleague at the The Victoria Pub, Ciara Sylvester, has been similarly affected by a life-limiting cardiovascular illness.

In January last year her mother fell ill with GAINs, the rare condition paralysing her legs and then working its way up her body until she had a cardiac arrest due to a lack of oxygen to the brain.

The Loughton based 54 year-old, who worked as a midwife at Princess Alexandra Hospital, is now facing another year bed bound in hospital.

At 10.30am on January 28, 270 people walked the 2.5miles from The Victoria Pub in Loughton to Butlers Retreat in Chingford in their honour.

Miss Heard said: "We had a singer perform and Morris Men from Chingford who kindly gave us the money they collected in their bucket.

"Everyone was having a really good time and it was nice to get some good weather."

With walkers paying £10 for the entertainment and a lunch and generous bids pouring in for a number of raffle prizes donated by local businesses, £5,700 was raised for GAIN and British Heart Foundation.

To donate, go to tinyurl.com/y9tdljq2