I will be running in the Manchester Half Marathon on Sunday 9th October 2022 to raise money for a charity that aims to detect and raise awareness of Cardiac risk in young people.

This cause is close to my heart as my son, George Smith, recently had to undergo major heart surgery at the age of 27 after being diagnosed with atrial fibrillation which causes an abnormal heart rhythm.

George is a professional MMA fighter and has been doing sport competitively his whole life. It was a shock to the family that someone so seemingly fit and healthy could have such a detrimental condition.

His condition started around 2019 and he put the pain he was feeling down to mental health or fitness. He had two fights where he didn’t look and feel himself, and once his FitBit alerted him to an irregular heart rhythm he contacted a nurse he knew who recommended he seek medical help immediately.

George's condition has detrimental effects on athletes pushing themselves daily in training and competition, which is why his symptoms were so prominent.

George was operated on with a procedure called ablation, which uses small burns or freezes to cause some scarring on the inside of the heart to help break up the electrical signals that cause irregular heartbeats. George is now feeling himself again and only after the surgery without the constant pain and chest cramps does he now realise how ill he was prior.

George is now well on the road to recovery, and I am very proud of how he has handled it all! He has gradually returned to training and is working on getting his old life back. On top of this, he is working on raising awareness about this condition and the charity CRY so that other young people with the same issues can get the support they need.

To support George, I have decided to participate in the Manchester Half Marathon. I have been training for a few months now and the race is only days away. Please support me in raising money for such a great charity.

Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

With your donation, CRY can reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) by working with cardiologists and family doctors to establish good practice and appropriate screening facilities to promote and protect the cardiac health of our young. By supporting CRY you will help save young lives from these potentially fatal cardiac conditions. See how your support can help by visiting www.c-r-y.org.uk

*All money goes direct to the charity*