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On the 7th of May 2010 my younger brother, Chris Beards, will be undergoing open heart surgery at Southampton General Hospital. It goes without saying that it's a very stessful time for our whole family, especially Chris. Luckily the ward he is staying on strive to make the whole experience as comfortable and normal for the patient, and go a long way to help the families. The ward itself is funded by the NHS but additional facilities are provided by Wessex Heartbeat, who rely heavily on charitable donations. They have provided such things as a games room, televisions and DVD players, on ward family kitchen areas, a computer suite with free internet access, and they provide free accommodation for families who are having to travel long distance to support their children. Having experienced these facilities first hand, my family and I know just how invaluable they are, and we know that when we are unable to be by Chris's side, he will be very well taken care of and there is no chance of him becoming bored. They really do provide peace of mind for families at a traumatic time filled with uncertainty.

Rhys Lidstone and I will be taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon on the 5th of September 2010, and our chosen charity is Wessex Heartbeat. It is a charity which is obviously very dear to us, and we would like to raise as much money for them as possible so they can continue to help families who find themselves in a truely difficult situation.

Any donation, no matter how small, would be greatly appreciated by the hospital and ourselves, and would make the run a lot more significant for Rhys and I. Thank you in advance :)