An all-female crew is gearing up for a gruelling Arctic challenge, to raise awareness of women’s risk of heart disease.

The expedition will see them trek 350km north of the Arctic Circle across a frozen lake and sleep outdoors in temperatures below -20C.

The women leave Dublin airport for Kilpisjärvi in Northern Finland this Thursday (March 13th).

For some, it will be a deeply personal journey to highlight heart health after loved ones suffered serious cardiac issues.

Data shows that one in four women in Ireland dies from heart disease and stroke – six times the number who die from breast cancer.

But the national heart and stroke charity says that cardiovascular disease in women remains under-researched, under-diagnosed and under-treated.

Doctor holding heart against chest. Image: Alamy

Judith Gilsenan from the Irish Heart Foundation is part of the team that flies out to northern Finland on Thursday.

Ms Gilsenan said they will be pushed to the limit.

“We will be doing basically a survival skills challenge week, so we'll be learning how to survive in extreme temperatures,” she said,

“We'll be sleeping outside in a tent in probably up to -25C hopefully under the Northern Lights - who knows?

“We're doing it all in aid of our ‘Her Heart Matters’ campaign.”

Broadcaster Maura Derrane and Irish Heart Foundation medical director Dr Angie Brown

Research commissioned by the Irish Heart Foundation last year showed that only half of women in Ireland recognise the symptoms of heart attack and stroke.

“Society needs to confront this embedded myth that heart disease is a male disease,” said consultant cardiologist and the charity’s Medical Director, Dr Angie Brown.

“It is still not seen as a disease that affects women to the degree that it does."

You can find more information on the 'Her Heart Matters' campaign – here.

Judith Gilsenan from the Irish Heart Foundation. Image: Supplied