In early January 2017 my husband was diagnosed with a heart muscle disease called Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM). DCM is when the muscle walls of the heart have become stretched and thin, so they can't squeeze properly to pump blood round the body. Before this, we knew nothing of the condition, but cardiomyopathy in all its forms is known to affect 1 in 500 children and adults in the UK.

The Pumping Marvellous Foundation is the UK's patient-driven heart failure charity. It provides help and support for people affected by heart failure (or as we prefer to call it, having an 'inefficient heart'), their carers and families. It is estimated that in 10 years, from 2012, the cost of managing heart failure in the NHS will increase on top of normal inflation by 50%.

Prognosis of heart failure patients is less favourable than most common cancers therefore mortality is significant, acute re-admission levels are high and it has been calculated that heart failure admissions equate to over 2% of the total admissions in A&E.

The Foundation’s value in these pathways is to promote HOPE to sufferers, promoting self-care and self-education through peer to peer coaching and support. We HOPE to have impact on reducing this ever increasing burden on the health economy by getting patients and their families actively managing their condition.

I've seen first-hand how supportive the charity is, and so I'd like to help raise awareness of them, and at the same time raise money to help them continue to provide their invaluable support to families affected by inefficient hearts.

I started running in October 2016, and on 5th March 2017 I'll be taking part in my second-ever organised 5k at the Meadows Marathon event in Edinburgh, to help raise money for the Pumping Marvellous Foundation.

I would really appreciate any donation you are able to make to this very worthy cause, no matter how big or small.

Thank you very much.


www.pumpingmarvellous.org