Shayne Ward, Coronation Street actor and British Heart Foundation champion, writes:

Every year hundreds of ­thousands of lives are cut short by heart disease and in the south west alone heart and ­circulatory conditions take the lives of around 15,000 people each year.

That is why I am calling on everyone in the south west to join me in the fight against heart disease by signing up to the British Heart Foundation’s Dechox campaign.

By challenging yourself to give up chocolate for the month of March and asking for ­sponsorship, you will help fund £1m of life-saving research that will make a difference to ­millions of lives.

For self-confessed chocoholics like me, it won’t be easy, but every pound raised will be ­crucial in helping to fund the cutting-edge breakthroughs for those fighting a daily battle with heart disease.

Last year more than 19,000 people took part in Dechox and raised an astonishing £800,000, and this year I am helping the BHF raise even more.

So whether you are an undercover chocolate eater, a crafty nibbler or a full-on midnight fridge raider, challenge yourself to a Dechox and sign up today at bhf.org.uk/dechox.