Help Us Beat Heart Disease – Fundraising for the British Heart Foundation

My journey with heart disease began when I was very young. I lost my grandfather to a stroke, despite my parents' tireless efforts to raise money for expensive medication that could have saved his life. Unfortunately, by the time help arrived, it was too late—the damage had already been done. As a child, I struggled to understand why medicine could only work in the initial phase of a stroke.

Years later, my grandmother, devastated by grief and loneliness, developed severe high blood pressure, leading to two strokes. In the end, complications from vascular dementia took her life. Her final words were filled with peace—she was happy to be reunited with my grandfather.

Now, as an adult and a scientist, I understand exactly what happened to them. And that’s why I’ve joined the fight.

For the past 10 years, I have been dedicated to cardiovascular research, and I am incredibly grateful to have been funded by the British Heart Foundation for the last nine years—throughout my PhD and now in my postdoctoral research. Currently, I work at the University of Edinburgh in Professor Andy Baker's lab, where we are not only identifying new treatment targets but also developing therapies for clinical trials. Our mission is clear: to take discoveries from the lab bench to patients and make a real difference.

In the Baker Lab, we are deeply committed to the British Heart Foundation’s mission—to end heart disease. We don’t just pursue this goal through our research; we are also passionate about fundraising while keeping our own hearts healthy.

This year, I am running a 10K during the Edinburgh EMF Festival to raise money for the British Heart Foundation. Every donation will support life-saving research—like ours in the Baker Lab—as well as provide vital support to heart disease patients and their families.

Any contribution, big or small, will make a difference. Thank you for your generosity and support! £24 could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target. Thanks!