In 2024, at the age of 26, my life changed when I was diagnosed with a life-threatening rare congenital heart defect - a symptomatic aberrant right coronary artery taking a malignant course, restricting blood flow to my heart that can lead to sudden cardiac death. It’s a condition I was born with, but one that went undetected for years, a reminder that congenital heart disease affects not only babies and children, but adults too.

In September 2025, I underwent life-saving open-heart surgery at the Bristol Heart Institute. Thanks to the incredible skill and care of the medical team, the surgery was a success, and normal blood flow to my heart was restored. In the early days after surgery, I struggled to even walk 100 metres. Now, four months into my recovery, I’m rebuilding my strength, so grateful to have had my defect corrected and to be able to take on a challenge that I wouldn’t have been able to do prior to that care: walking 100 miles throughout February to raise money for the British Heart Foundation during Heart Month, helping to fund lifesaving research.

Every three minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease. Every single day in the UK, around 13 babies are diagnosed with congenital heart disease - conditions where the heart or major blood vessels don’t develop properly in the womb. Often, we still don’t know why these conditions occur. That’s why continued research is so important. The British Heart Foundation funds vital breakthroughs that improve diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes for babies, children, and adults born with congenital heart disease, helping to beat the heartbreak caused by these conditions.

By supporting my 100-mile walk, you’re not just backing a physical challenge; you’re helping to fund life-saving research, support families, and give more people like me the chance of a future they might not otherwise have had.

Thank you so much for reading, supporting, and donating to the British Heart Foundation, a cause that’s incredibly close to my heart. ♥️ 
Every step I take is for everyone affected by heart disease.