I’m running the Brighton marathon in September to raise money for a hospital that is very close to my heart. Here’s why. 

Five years ago, on the way back from seeing her friends, my little sister Claire, 18 at the time, had a seizure in the car. This was followed by many other seizures and in the ambulance on the way to the hospital, her heart stopped twice. When we got to the hospital, after a long wait, the a&e doctor told us she was very poorly and to prepare for the worst. I will never forget those words- it is something completely unimaginable and horrendous to have to even contemplate. 

They discovered she had a huge pulmonary embolism (blood clot in her lungs) which was stopping the blood flow to her heart.

After spending the night and next day in a&e and intensive care in Frimley Park Hospital she was moved overnight to St George’s in Tooting to be under the care of Professor Madden, one of the world’s leading cardiothoracic surgeons. At that time, we didn’t even know if she would survive the journey to London.

Three weeks later, after many ups and downs along the way, multiple journeys to and from London, sleepless nights, trips to the hospital M&S for snacks, lots of hand holding and hand-sanitising, Claire was released from the Cardiothoracic ward on to a regular cardio ward and a week after that she came home to us, two days before Christmas. Today she is perfectly healthy, and has just finished her masters at Bath University, something that would never have been possible without St George’s Hospital.

These last few months have shown us the importance of our beloved NHS and the hospitals that help care for our loved ones. Their fantastic work has been highlighted due to the Covid-19 pandemic however they are always needed and greatly appreciated.  I know in these tough times some people’s financial circumstances may have been affected, and many have already been incredibly generous with donations, but for those that are in a position to give, their donation would really have a big impact. 

Claire received the absolute best care, and it is thanks to the incredible people at those two amazing hospitals that she is here today. They quite literally saved her life, and I will forever be in their debt. This is just a tiny way of giving something back, even if it is a very small amount, to help give others who are really sick the chance to live the life that was meant for them. 

The money I raise will go to St George’s Hospital charity, specifically for the Cardiothoracic intensive care units. The money will help to facilitate longer term changes at St Georges.

Thanks for reading, and thank you for any donation you can make- your donation however big or small is greatly and equally appreciated! 

‘Better Care, Healthier Lives’. We are the charity that exists to support St George’s hospitals and the communities they serve. Every day, our work makes a real difference to patients, their families and friends and the staff who care for them.