Help Beat SCAD: Support My 100km Swim Challenge!

Hi everyone,

This summer I`m aiming to raise £4,000 for Beat SCAD, a charity that is helping my family and so many others. On April 11th, my amazing mum, Emma, suffered a heart attack caused by SCAD—Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection—while at a samba drumming performance. SCAD is a rare heart condition that happens suddenly without warning and it happened to my mum who is <50, fit and healthy.

Following her heart attack, she was rushed to Sir James Cook Hospital where she underwent an emergency angiogram and had a balloon inserted into her left anterior descending (LAD) artery, which had decreased in function by 44%. After four days in the hospital, she was discharged with heart damage, unable to drive for a month or work for at least three months. Currently, she is attending cardiac rehab twice a week, working hard to slowly rebuild her heart strength, however emotional recovery often takes longer than physical recovery. She is also signed up for a research trial to help further our understanding of SCAD.

The Need for Research and Support:

My mum and other SCAD survivors are being supported by an incredible team of researchers in Leicester at the Glenfield Hospital & NIHR Biomedical Research Centre. However, with the number of SCAD patients in need of support increasing weekly, funds are urgently needed to support their work. Beat SCAD is aiming to raise £25,000 to support the work of a new Clinical Research Fellow.

SCAD Facts

My Goal

I’m aiming to raise £4,000 through a 100km swim challenge.

Starting June 30th, I'll begin my challenge to swim 100km by August 31st. UPDATE: Unfortunately due to my local pool closures I am extending my challenge deadline until the 5th of September.

Phase 2: Throughout the summer, I’ll also be hosting events and sales to increase funds, so keep an eye out for updates!

The highest amount ever individually fundraised for Beat SCAD is £3,000, so I`d really like to beat that but any donation is hugely appreciated.

The Challenge of SCAD:

SCAD cannot currently be predicted or prevented and is underdiagnosed due to a lack of awareness. People affected by SCAD may fail to act on their symptoms because they don't suspect it could be their heart when they are fit and healthy. Doctors misdiagnose or diagnose late, which can lead to severe heart damage or heart failure in some cases.

https://beatscad.org.uk/SCAD-for-Patients/What-is-SCAD

What is Happening to Find Out More?

Research is underway in Leicester at the Glenfield Hospital & NIHR Biomedical Research Centre to find answers to why SCAD happens and how best to treat it. This research began in 2013 after patients across the UK met via an online forum and demanded answers. As of March 2022, over 1,240 SCAD patients have registered to participate, with 555 consented and recruited to the study—a staggering number considering SCAD was considered extremely rare just a short time ago.

Data collected and analyzed by Dr. Adlam and his research team has already contributed to numerous journal publications, including investigating the prevalence of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), aneurysms, dissection, and tortuosity in extracoronary arteries of SCAD patients; a review of the pitfalls of angiographic diagnosis and considerations for ambiguous cases; investigating coronary histological and dermal collagen ultrastructural findings in SCAD; developing recommendations for physical activity and exercise in patients with SCAD and FMD; and investigating a potential biomarker to address the challenge of differentiating acute SCAD from coronary atherothrombosis.

How to Support

Donate: Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference.

Spread the Word: Share my fundraiser with your friends, family, and social media.

Together, we can make a difference and bring hope to those affected by SCAD.

Let's beat SCAD!

Thank you so much for all of your support

Eve x