Welcome to my fundraising campaign for the British Heart Foundation

For my family, this is deeply personal. Our daughter, Florence, was born with a rare heart condition called fetal supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which affects less than 1% of pregnancies. SVT causes the heart to beat so fast that it cannot pump blood properly, which can quickly lead to heart failure in babies. Florence was born via emergency c-section, and if we hadn't gone to the hospital when we did, she might not have made it.

Since birth, Florence has had to take heart medication up to six times a day, every single day, and will stay on this regime until she is old enough for corrective surgery. In total, she has suffered 14 SVT episodes so far.

In a typical episode, we have to rush her to the hospital, where doctors perform a chemical cardioversion using adenosine - a drug that temporarily stops the heart to allow it to restart in a normal rhythm. Watching a team of doctors prepare to stop your child's heart, even for a millisecond, is frightening.

During one particularly severe episode, the adenosine failed to reset her heart. She had to be given a much stronger drug, amiodarone, and was blue lit to the Royal Brompton Hospital for specialised care. While there, we saw children fighting even more complex heart conditions - images that stay with you forever.

She has also had other recent episodes triggered by something as simple as vomiting. It means we have to be even more careful and constantly on guard, knowing that completely "normal" childhood experiences can suddenly trigger a life-threatening episode. These moments are incredibly stressful, and they remind us daily why research and treatments are so critical.

The Multi-Event Campaign

Following the support I received during my London Marathon 2026 fundraising (raising £3,370), I realised I wanted to build something bigger. That is why I am launching this overarching BHF campaign to host multiple fundraising events, bringing our community together to raise as much support as possible.

Some of the key challenges and events in this campaign include:

Charity Golf Day (October 2026): A golf tournament at the Stoke by Nayland Resort, bringing together players, local business sponsors, and donors for a day of sport, competition, and a charity raffle.

Multiple Marathons in Four Weeks (Spring 2027): A massive physical challenge where I will be running the Brighton, Manchester, and (hopefully) London Marathons in just one month.

Future Events: Additional community activities and fundraising drives.

Why Your Support Matters

The British Heart Foundation funds life-saving research into heart and circulatory conditions, giving children like Florence the hope of a healthy, bright future.

Whether you are participating in our Golf Day, sponsoring a marathon mile, or donating the cost of a coffee, every penny raised goes directly to funding this vital work.

I have been absolutely blown away by the generosity of our supporters so far. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your donations, your encouragement, and for sharing our journey. We cannot do this without you!