Dedicated Sophie Jardine works 24/7 at British Heart Foundation in memory of stepdad

A DEDICATED charity worker who lost her stepdad to an undiagnosed heart problem now works "24/7" to raise money for charity in his memory.

Sophie Jardine began volunteering for the British Heart Foundation in 2008 a few months after Lawrence Moffatt died.

The 27-year-old from Belper organised balls and other fund-raising activities for the charity – even doing a skydive.

Now Sophie has been nominated for a Community Champions award for her charity efforts.

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She said: "Lawrence died in March 2007 and I started helping the British Heart Foundation a few months later.

"I had the idea to do the ball to raise money and remember him.

"It was fantastic and every year since we have had some amazing times."

Over the next 18 months, while juggling a sales and marketing job, she continued to help the charity.

She said: "I was selling pin badges, raising money in various ways and letting people know the dangers of heart problems."

Then in 2009, a year after Lawrence died, Sophie landed a job fund-raising for the charity in Derby.

She said: "Since then I can't really remember the last time I had a nine-to-five day. It's very much 24/7."

And as if working for the charity was not enough, Sophie still organises the ball in her spare time and has even done her own fund-raising events.

She said: "I ran the London marathon for British Heart Foundation in 2010 and raised about £1,800. I did a skydive as well.

"The ball is a massive amount of work. It takes about six months to plan and is normally held in September or October.

"I sort out all the catering, the venue and then there is the task of selling the tickets.

"I do all of that in my spare time as that is something that I want to do – it is personal."

Shaun Peaty, who nominated Sophie for the Community Champions award, said: "I have known Sophie for 10 years and she has helped raised thousands of pounds for charity.

"She works tirelessly to promote the British Heart Foundation in Derby and I feel she really deserves some recognition for her work."

Sophie was surprised to be nominated.

She said: "It's lovely to be nominated and for people to recognise what you do."