My dad Steve had heart surgery seven years ago to replace his aortic valve and has been exercising in the gyms at Bournemouth Heart Club twice a week ever since. I now live with my family in Sardinia and I’m coming home to celebrate dad’s 70th birthday and to participate in my first ever running event - the Run Bournemouth half-marathon on 12th October - to raise money for this very special cause.

Bournemouth Heart Club provides safe exercise instruction and lifestyle advice for people in the local community with cardiovascular disease and other long term health conditions - or may be at risk of developing them. The club is in a purpose-built centre on the Royal Bournemouth Hospital site, fully equipped with two full-sized gyms, a lounge and changing rooms. The highly qualified instructors help to ensure that over a thousand members can happily exercise to their full potential in a safe and friendly environment.

Thank you for reading this and thank you for any support you are able to give.