Well I'm hitting the road again, this time it's the streets of London on April 17th for the Marathon. I'm in training and I've started February running 15 miles so I'm well on my way.

Most of you will know how much fun my heart created at the end of 2008 hence the  charity I'm supporting is The British Heart Foundation.

In the summer of 2008 while training with friends for the Dublin marathon my body decided it deserved a rest. At the time I thought it was just on exercise over load as the hours on the tennis court plus my running training and my monstrous dog walks meant it was going non stop. Little did I know I was so close to reaching those pearly gates.

Finding out in your 30's that you were born with a congenital heart defect really changes your outlook on life. Especially when you begin to understand that a defective aortic valve can bring a quick and untimely end to all your dreams and aspirations. You spend your years being told that hard work will bring success but what use is that without good health.

After my open heart surgeries which saved my life, I've made a conscious effort to remember how important my family and friends are and how it's important to work hard but never to put work infront of those people that mean the most to you. It's a short life we're all blessed with and you have the option to use it, or abuse it.

Every minute of every day is so precious and it's an opportunity to make a difference. No one person should ever take anything for granted. Tomorrow may never come...as I was so close to finding out.

Try sitting on a high dependency hospital ward writing cards to your closest family and loved ones, saying goodbye and thanks for all the good times...try choosing your own funeral songs late at night before heading down for emergency surgery. That in a moment makes you realise how short life is and how at any time it could be you everyone has dressed in black for to celebrate 'a wonderful life'.

I'm one of the lucky ones, I'm here and able to live a fairly normal life as a heart patient. My brother in law became another heart statistic New Year's eve leaving behind a distraught family, young children, a brother, sister and a mother.

You'll come across many people with heart problems who will need the help of The British Heart Foundation so please dig deep and support my chosen charity. Thank you in advance, Pippa x.

 

 

So please dig deep and donate now.