Politics is all about building bridges.

But Preston's mayor will be taking on a bridge challenge of a different kind when she walks the banks of the River Thames this weekend. 

It will be a day tinged with sadness for Counc Christine Abram and her family when they take part in the Heart of London Bridges Walk on Sunday. 

Counc Abram, husband Norman, daughter Kate and Ruth, and son-in-law Nigel Hunter will be walking eight kilometres and crossing eight of London's bridges for charity. 

The family is hoping to raise up to £1,000 for CRY, Cardiac Risk in the Young, but completing the walk to coincide with CRY's Raising Awareness Week. 

They will be walking in memory of Ruth's partner, Stuart Cave, 33, who died suddenly on New Year's Eve after suffering a massive heart attack while holidaying in Tenerife. 

The Abrams will be joined by more than 300 CRY supporters from Westminster to Tower Bridge, taking in Golden Jubilee, Waterloo, Millennium, Blackfriars, Southwark and London bridges. 

The eight bridges each signify one of the eight apparently fit and healthy young people aged 35 and under who die every week in the UK from undiagnosed heart conditions. 

It is hoped the event will raise £30,000 for CRY, which will go towards vital work such as the charity's national screening programme, raising awareness, medical research and the counselling and support of affected families. 

Counc Abram, who is supporting CRY and Preston Women's Refuge during her mayoral year said: "We're doing this in memory of Stuart and we want to raise awareness of CRY, get people involved and get screening done, possibly routinely, for people."

To sponsor the Abrams, log on to www.justgiving.com/abramfamily