Most Irish adults drink more alcohol in December compared to other times of the year and almost three in four will suffer from at least one hangover this month as a result, the Irish Heart Foundation (IHF) has said.

However, it is encouraging people to give up alcohol next month in an attempt to improve their health and wellbeing, and raise some much needed funds to help fight heart disease and stroke.

On The Dry is a new fundraising initiative that is asking people to abstain from alcohol for the entire month of January and find new ways to engage with their families and friends.

"We are calling on the general public to join us and go On The Dry in January to help to raise vital funds for fighting heart disease and stroke. I'll be signing up for the campaign. You can join me and sign up at www.onthedry.ie where you will also find lots of ideas of ways to stay dry without alcohol and raise money in the process," commented IHF chief executive, Barry Dempsey.

The top 300 fundraisers, along with a partner of their choice, will then get to participate in the Dry Run on Sunday, February 7 - a fun event which will include a range of challenges, including a zip line, wall climbing and an insect tasting test.

"The Dry Run will be an exciting urban adventure that the top 300 fundraisers will get to participate in so the sooner you sign up, the better your chance to get involved," Mr Dempsey said.

Every year in Ireland, over 100,000 new cases of heart disease and stroke are diagnosed and all funds raised from this new initiative will be spent on helping to tackle these two conditions.

"The reality is that every hour, a man, woman or child dies from heart disease or stroke in Ireland and women are seven times more likely to die from this disease than from breast cancer.

"But the good news is that 80% of cardiovascular disease is preventable. The support of the general public is vital in order to change the statistics and prevent more people dying prematurely from heart disease and stroke," the IHF said.

For more information on On The Dry, click here

For more information on heart disease, see our Heart Disease Clinic here