I have decided to take part in the virtual walk/run from Land’s End to John O’Groats because as you know I love a challenge! I have the whole year to complete the 874 miles however, I have set myself the goal that I will do this in 5 months.

Here are the reasons I am taking part in this challenge and raising money for Royal Papworth Charity...

On Friday 13 January 2012 I was 31 weeks pregnant and looking forward to the birth of my first baby when I was suddenly hit with agonising chest pain. I was rushed to A&E where it was discovered that I needed immediate emergency heart surgery to save my life.

I had an aortic dissection, which is a tear in the wall of the aorta, the body’s main artery. This is a dangerous condition and fatal if not treated quickly.

Emily was delivered by C section (9 weeks early) and just twenty minutes later I was undergoing major open heart surgery to replace my arotic valve and repair part of my aorta.

Words can’t describe how grateful my family and I are to Royal Papworth hospital for saving my life! Without them I would not have survived. Emily was born at Royal Papworth Hospital and on my Dad’s 65 Birthday – the worst and best present a daughter can give her Dad, his daughter with a life threatening heart condition and a new granddaughter!

Sadly on the 11 March 2016 our lives were turned upside down again when my Mum was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to her spine. Mum underwent numerous cycles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and at first this did shrink the cancer however, we were told that the cancer wasn’t responding to the treatment and sadly my Mum passed away on the 6th June 2018.

My Mum was always incredibly grateful to the staff at Royal Papworth Hospital because she had a biopsy there when she was diagnosed with lung cancer, they saved her daughters life and her granddaughter was born there! 

Last July, my Dad was a patient at Royal Papworth Hospital having a triple heart bypass. The staff were truly amazing, the care they showed him and us as a family was outstanding! We were not able to visit him due to COVID restrictions but they always kept in contact with us, were thoughtful and caring. 

The NHS are truly amazing! This year has been a difficult one for so many people. Thank you to Royal Papworth hospital for supporting and caring for me and others during this incredibly difficult time, we really appreciate it! 

So far, I have achieved 182 miles since 1st January, only 691.95 to go! Thank you for taking the time to read this and for supporting Royal Papworth Hospital. I can’t thank you enough, your donation will truly help other people. 

Royal Papworth Charity exists to support the ground-breaking work of Royal Papworth Hospital. With increasing pressures on the NHS, the Charity plays a vital role in ensuring that the Hospital continues to provide the highest standards of care by investing in staff development, improving the Hospital environment for our patients and supporting research into new ways of treating heart and lung disease. Our patients, their families and the staff are at the heart of everything we do, this is all made possible by the generosity of our supporters.