Thanks for visiting my page. I'm raising money for the British Heart Foundation and I'd be so grateful for your support. The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly every day 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. Thanks!

Why am I fundraising?

As you may or may not know, February is national Heart month, and what better way of celebrating heart month that raising money for an amazing charity that helps to fund lifesaving research that benefit so many around the UK (and consequently the world!).

As you know this is something close to my heart (literally), as I have had numerous heart related Blips, surgeries & procedures, as well as my family also being affected by heart issues like my dad, as well as circulatory issues such as vascular dementia (which sadly nan is currently suffering from).

I have benefitted from the lifesaving research that the BHF have carried out that has helped pioneer things like less invasive surgeries, such as those i've had like an implantable loop recorder, treating arrhythmias via a catheter ablation using heat and cryotherapy, electrophysiology studies (The BHF funded research, looking at a 3d mapping of the heart's electrical system (2017-2019) which i have also benefited from - using a specialized technique of mapping an individuals heart to see where an electrical problem originates from), closure of my atrial septal defect via minimally invasive surgery. And not to mention the loved ones around me have also benefited.

I have seen first hand the amazing things the british heart foundation have implemented - such as the free cardiac rehab scheme for people who have suffered a heart attack, and I witnessed the good it did with my dad after he suffered a heart attack in 2016. The mental, as well as physical side of heart problems were catered for, making sure a cardiac nurse was there to take vitals before, during and after the gentle but progressive rehab programme, paying attention to how people felt physically and mentally/emotionally as exercising again after a cardiac event can be terrifying! All the while educating people on their cardiac and vascular issues and how they can improve their symptoms and lives.

And it is not only funding for procedures and programmes, its also helping fund research to create increasingly easier and comfortable monitoring systems, such as holter monitors, that are waterproof or have fewer cables so that people can go about their day easier - speaking from experience as a teen walking around for a few weeks wearing a heavy and bulky multiple wired contraption to keep an eye on my heart rhythm and being very self aware about what i wore when I was wearing that lovely grey chunky bit of kit with a stylish (NOT!) black webbing around my waist - i know it's a small inconvenience, but for younger people with these issues that need monitoring it makes all the difference in how they feel about themselves, and helps them to not feel about 50 years older than they are! In comparison to the holter monitors used mostly nowadays, they are small, sleek, easy to put on and off and only have 2 wires (!!!), making them a lot more discreet and easier/more comfortable to wear!.

The BHF are now funding more and more research and programmes, such as the link between cardiac issues and mental health/depression and after cardiac events they are now looking at specialized counseling, for those people that have suffered a cardiac event as the BHF have explored the link between the heart and the emotional state/mind (Prime example of this link is ‘broken heart syndrome’).

The BHF offer some amazing support and advice, online, over the phone or by post or email. They can help loved ones understand your condition, help new parents understand the condition thats affecting their newborn, can help someone understand the procedure they are about to have and everything in between. They really are a vital resource that i urge everyone to at least have a look at - they also offer a free learn CPR in 15 mins guided online training, with a Spotify playlist of songs that you can do CPR to ( though i hope you should never need to use).

I'm sure everyone knows someone who's suffered from a heart or vascular related problem, such as vascular dementia, stroke, diabetes, arrhythmias, heart attacks, and the list goes on. Its a big problem in the UK, with 6.4 million living with a cardiovascular disease, and sadly it doesn't just affect the person living with the disease, their friends, families and loved ones suffer too. Worrying everyday if somehting will happen, or having to support your loved one with daily tasks (thank you again mum for helping me on these days!). That's why The British Heart Foundation are aiming to beat heat break and stop fear of heart an circulatory diseases.

Since they were founded, their research has helped to reduce deaths from heart and circulatory diseases by more than half. But we cannot stop now as heart & circulatory issues don't discriminate, they can affect anyone, any biological sex, ethnicity, age, health or fitness level.

So throughout February I will be fundraising for The British Heart Foundation, by doing things like:

* Selling cakes, cookies, biscuits & brownies

* Organizing a 'Red' sponsored ride (& a rosette on completion!)

* Organizing a raffle

if you've read this far - thank you! and I'd really appreciate it if you could help me reach my goal! Even if you cant donate any money, id love it if you could share this link or spread the word!

Thank you!