Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

Hi everyone, on the 7th October 2025 I received a life changing surgery that has fixed years of broken body image, stamina issues, continuous chest pains & most of all inability to breathe fully the way lungs should.

Pectus Excavatum is a congenital condition that affects 1 in 1000 children. The condition is even more rare in female births, with it being 4 times more common in boys. My condition severity was classed as severe, with it causing my sternum to be pressing into my lungs & heart. This issue presented both the dangers of incapability to breathe & causes a heart murmur by my right heart valve being crushed.

Before this surgery, my life felt restricted in so many aspects, having the NUSS procedure has absolutely given me a new lease of life to do everything to the best of my abilities, starting with fundraising for a charity so close to my heart (no pun intended)

Thanks to the incredible work of Dr Joel Dunning and the amazing team at James Cook Hospital, I now have the opportunity to do this half-marathon to raise funds for Pectus Matters, a charity aimed at supporting individuals with the condition, with support, resources & access to the best treatments. Where the NHS has placed challenges for individuals with the condition to receive appropriate treatment, Pectus Matters helps fill gaps in support and campaign for better access nationally.

For updates to this fundraiser, please find information on

@pectuswithgem - TikTok

@pectuswithgem / @gem.leahh - Instagram

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