20/05/2025 - WE DID IT...what a day, amazing views, amazing weather and

amazing family & friends to take on this challenge...so proud of us all.

Many Many thanks to everyone that has donated, it has blown us away and certainly kept us motivated to get to the top...

Much love from all of us xxxxxx

2024 didn’t start as we had hoped…on the 3rd of January, Richard experienced severe ripping chest pains. With the thoughts of a heart attack he was taken to A & E.

An ECG was done and a heart attack was ruled out. He was given antacids and blood thinners, with some paracetamol for the pain.

After sitting in the waiting room for about 3 hours the pains didn’t subside. Eventually he was sent for a CT scan, this showed an Aorta dissection…he was immediately blue lighted to Wolverhampton hospital having a blood transfusion on the way to reverse the effects of the blood thinners. Luckily after a 10 hour operation the ascending dissection had been repaired and a large stent inserted in the descending Aorta due to an aneurysm being found. Recovery started well, unfortunately however the stent did not retain the aneurysm and another dissection occurred.

Richard had been referred to the Liverpool Heart and Chest hospital, where it was clear the surgeons were unsure how they were going to operate to remove & replace the section of the aorta with the stent running through it. After a lot of research and meetings of specialists from around the world, as this was a rare occurrence, only the 2nd in the world, a plan was in place. This operation took nearly 12 hours with a number of highly experienced surgeons present and thankfully it was successful. Richard is recovering well and continuing to be monitored by the Liverpool Heart & Chest hospital, this will be ongoing for some years.

With all this in mind, we would like to give back to the hospital and so 21 of us will be hiking up Ben Nevis on 17th May 2025. Unfortunately Richard is still not fit enough, just yet, to take part in the hike, however he is our biggest cheer leader and will be our welcoming committee (along with Chester and Joey, the doggies) on our return to the bottom.

We’ve all been training and are looking forward to the massive challenge.

The money will go to the Aorta Aneurysm Research project, headed by Mr Othman, Richard’s lead surgeon.

Please see the links below if you would like to learn more about Aortic issues.

https://www.lhch.nhs.uk/healthy-and-diseased-aorta

https://aorticdissectioncharitabletrust.org/about-aortic-dissection/

The biggest lesson we have learnt is, if a heart attack is ruled out…

* THINK AORTA *

If you would like to donate, it would be very much appreciated and will assist the Aortic Aneurysm project to continue their invaluable, life saving research.

Thank you so so much,

Richard, Iz, Zak, Joe, Alice, Sam, Josh, Bel, Pete, Ben, Eden, Ollie, Millie, Charlie, Cerys, Jamie, Olivia, Ryan, Justine, Lee, Lisa & Mick - Team Ben Nevis

xxxxxx