For Luka and Dan
Leon Lima is raising money for Cardiomyopathy UK
Story
On Sunday 22nd April I embark on my 2nd biggest challenge running in the London Marathon. I say the second, as I believe my number one challenge is ensuring that I provide the very best for my son Luka, who really is the bravest and most inspiring son I could ever have hoped for. What Luka has had to deal with and continues to take within his stride is mind blowing.
I am running this marathon to raise money for the charity Cardiomyopathy UK for two causes. Firstly for my son Luka Lima who at the age of 8 months was diagnosed with a life threatening illness – dilated cardiomyopathy and secondly, in the memory of a Glenmoor and Winton Academy legend Mr Dan Ferris who left us in his prime as a result of cardiomyopathy.
Over the course of the past 2 and a half years Cardiomyopathy U.K. has been a great source of information and support. The newsletter and Facebook group have provided me and my family with useful resources, up-to-date medical movements and personal support from affected families and charity members.
Cardiomyopathy UK is a specialist national charity for people affected by cardiomyopathy. With continual budget cuts and reduced services within the NHS it is vital that anyone diagnosed with a heart related
illness can still access the outstanding service that we have been so very fortunate to receive. Cardiomyopathy UK contributes significantly to this service often reassuring and supporting those in need.
Over the past 2 years Luka has stabilised, albeit on a large cocktail of medication and his heart remains severely dilated with impaired function. We have since moved back to Bournemouth where my wife Fiona and I met, so that we can provide Luka with the very best opportunities. Luka is currently thriving – must be the clean coastal air. Nevertheless, there isn’t a day that passes that we take this for granted. Luka’s condition is not predictable and we do not know what is around the corner. Dilated Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of paediatric heart transplants and we can only hope and pray that our son manages to grow in good health, avoiding the need for this medical procedure. We are also optimistic that with medical advancements, this heart condition can be managed more effectively, allowing for our son to lead a full life with normal life expectancy.
For all these reasons I am running the London marathon to raise money for this great charity and to continue to raise awareness of the different heart conditions that affect so many people.