After raising funds for the Prostate Cancer charity that helped my Dad’s recovery earlier in the year I am now sending out my second fund raising plea of the year.

I appreciate that times are tough but if you could be so kind as to consider sponsoring me, even if it’s just a few pounds, I would be so grateful as I try to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation – a cause so close to me – and here’s why…

Many of you will know my husband, Ryan.  Some of you will know that Ryan suffered a near fatal cardiac issue, aged just 36, in 2015.

Ryan went for a routine, work related, medical and totally out of the blue failed!  Oblivious to the danger that he was in he attempted to convince his ever-expanding medical team that he was fine – he wasn’t, and it transpired that he was in fact very poorly. 

His main aortic valve had failed due to a defect and as a result 75% of the blood that his heart pumped went back though his heart in the wrong direction.  It took for some very intrusive tests to establish that his heart had enlarged to compensate.  The human heart can’t expand forever and whilst on a long waiting list we were in constant danger of a rupture, something that would be fatal.

Luckily, we were offered a cancelled appointment and went under the surgeon’s knife in an 8-hour procedure at Brighton Hospital.  He received first rate care and survived having aortic valve surgery, leaving Ryan with an artificial mechanical heart valve.

Ryan never accepted he was ill before his operation assuming it was all a big mistake he thought he was invincible, he was fit, he was active, he didn’t smoke, he ate healthy and he was never ill.  It has taken him many years to come to terms with the fact that he is clinically vulnerable and dependent on medication for the rest of his life. 

I can honestly say that if this can happen to us – it can happen to anyone.  And for that reason, I am going to raise money for the British Heart Foundation.  I owe them my husband and our daughter owes them her daddy.  It’s because of their research, their dedication, and their advances in medical science that there was not just a solution to save Ryan’s life but also a diagnosis that identified he was so poorly in the first place. 

So what am I going to do I hear you ask? well let me explain….

I have started running and cycling and in August this year I completed my final training run by completing the UK Ultra 20 mile cross country race across the South Downs – but what was this in preparation for?

I have signed up to complete the British Heart Foundation Off Road London to Brighton Cycle Race on the 17th September 2022 and the Beachy Head Marathon on the 22nd October 2022.

The Off Road London to Brighton Cycle Race is over 60 miles which includes tough climbs, technical descents, rocky surfaces, dirt trails, forest paths, rapid single track and the popular South Downs Link – so it’s going to be tough and it’s going to be fun.  I’m looking forward to the views and a beer at the end.  I’m doing this event with my brother and my uncle to raise money for the BHF.

Then in October, I’m going to run the Beachy Head Marathon – it’s the UKs biggest off-road marathons and one of the toughest!  This time I’m on my own – just me and my trainers.  I understand times are tough.  Money is hard to come by, but lives are harder still.  I am so fortunate; I still have my husband, our daughter has her daddy but others are not so lucky and the only way to advance medical science is to invest in it.

Help me generate the funds needed to save lives and thank you for taking the time to read my story.

Thank you

Love and Hugs

Lydia xx

The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly everyday hundreds of people lose their lives. It's only thanks to support from people like us that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. £24
could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target. Thank you!