In 2008, at the age of 29 I suffered a near fatal heart attack - a result of blood clots forming in my left ventricle and the major artery leading to the heart. In the days following the heart attack I was diagnosed with Hughes Syndrome by the specialist unit at St Thomas's Hospital. Hughes Syndrome, also known medically as the antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder which can present life threatening features, including strokes and thrombosis. Up to 20% of young people (under 45) who have a heart attack have antiphospholipid antibodies. Now almost 3 years on and 2 beautiful children later I will be cycling from London to Paris covering 500km in 4 days to raise funds to continue vital research into the causes, effects and treatments of the disease, as well as providing support for patients and increasing medical and public knowledge of Hughes Syndrome. I will be sharing this journey with a dear friend of 20+ years, Richard Butterfield and my bro-in-law, Graham Lancefield. Your support means a lot to me and my family - thank you very much for your generosity.