I was born with two congenital heart defects. Since then, I’ve survived nine heart operations and a haemorrhagic stroke. My heart doesn’t beat on its own; it quite literally runs on batteries, and I’m now on my fifth pacemaker generator.

Every day I’m reminded how fragile life can be, and how much I owe to medical research, skilled clinicians, and the support of charities like the British Heart Foundation.

This Heart Month, I’m walking for every heartbeat I’ve been given. Throughout February, I’m taking on the Walk for Hearts challenge to help fund lifesaving research; research that gave me a future I was never guaranteed.

With your support, the British Heart Foundation can continue to power breakthroughs that mean more time, more moments, and more lives saved; for people like me, and for so many others still waiting for hope.