On the 10th May I’m running the Great Bristol Half Marathon (with my lovely cousins and Joey) to raise money for the Bristol Heart Institute (BHI).

Last year, from November through January, my dad, Scott, was an inpatient at Southmead Hospital and BHI. Scott was born with a bicuspid aortic valve, a heart defect where the aortic valve has two leaflets instead of three, and didn’t know about it until a few years ago. After being placed on a waiting list for a heart valve replacement and aortic root replacement, he was diagnosed with endocarditis in November 2025—a scary diagnosis that landed him in Southmead Hospital for a month. He was eventually transferred to BHI, where he waited for his open heart surgery.

On December 22nd, Scott finally had the surgery, which meant a Christmas Day trip to intensive care for the family to visit him. It was a tough time, but the care he received at BHI was out of this world. From the treatment on the wards, to ICU and HDU, every member of staff—doctors, nurses, and the incredible surgeons—made this difficult time a lot easier for my dad and our family. The compassion, dedication, and expertise from everyone at BHI were nothing short of amazing.

Thanks to them, my dad is now making a fantastic recovery, and I’m forever grateful for the care he received. That’s why I’m raising money for BHI, so they can continue to provide outstanding care to others in need.