On 15th March, I’ll be running my first ever half marathon and wanted to take the opportunity to raise money for The Aortic Aneurysm trust in memory of my dad.

Losing my Dad aged 69 has changed our family's lives forever. He loved Southampton Football Club, puzzle books, quiet routines, and the people and pets who made up his world. He never asked for anything and gave everything he had to his family. He worked hard, lived simply, and loved deeply, not through big speeches, but through the way he showed up every day. He was still working full‑time right up until the day he suddenly fell ill.

I’m raising funds for The Aortic Aneurysm Trust in memory of my Dad, who we lost suddenly to a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm on the 11th February 2026. None of us knew he had an aneurysm. There were no symptoms, no warning signs, and no chance to prepare. The only thing he ever mentioned was that he “felt like he was getting older.”

His aneurysm went undetected and had grown to around 10cm (for context, it is usually an emergency at 5cms). When it began to leak, he was able to get to the hospital. Although he survived the emergency surgery, the aneurysm ruptured during the procedure and he wasn’t able to recover. We lost him 11 days later.

Aortic aneurysms are often called a “silent killer” because most people don’t know they have one until it’s too late. They can grow for years without causing any pain or symptoms. When they rupture, the survival rate is extremely low. This is why awareness and early detection are so important.

Key facts about aortic aneurysms:

- They often develop with no symptoms at all

- They are more common in people over 65, especially men

- Many aneurysms are only found by chance during scans for other issues

- Screening saves lives — when detected early, aneurysms can be monitored or treated before they rupture

- The UK offers screening for men at 65, but many people fall outside this group and never get checked

- Family history increases risk, which is why awareness matters for future generations

If sharing his story helps even one person get checked, or helps one family avoid this heartbreak, then something positive can come from our loss.

If you’re able to donate — no matter how small — it would mean so much to me and my family. Your support will help fund vital research and awareness that could save lives.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for helping us honour my dad in a way that truly matters.