On Saturday 13th June, I will be walking 42 miles from Trentham to Birmingham Children’s Hospital to raise money for Little Hearts Matter.

The walk is expected to take around 19 hours, although I’m hoping to complete it a little quicker!

I’m doing this because living alongside someone with a single ventricle heart condition — often described as living with “half a heart” — has completely opened my eyes to the reality that so many children, adults, and families face every single day.

Congenital heart disease affects around 1 in every 125 babies born in the UK, and single ventricle conditions are among the most complex. Many patients face multiple open-heart surgeries before they even reach adulthood, lifelong hospital appointments, increased risks from infections, and ongoing physical and mental challenges throughout their lives.

Living with my partner, who has half a working heart, has shown me the incredible strength needed to face these challenges every day. From hearing difficult statistics from doctors, to yearly cardiac reviews, to the constant uncertainty around even common illnesses — the resilience shown by kirsty living with this condition is nothing short of inspiring.

Spreading awareness about these conditions is vital — not only to help fund research and improve the lives and futures of people living with “half a heart”, but also to help others understand what living with this diagnosis truly means.

One of the biggest challenges many people face is that these conditions are often invisible. Just because someone looks fine on the outside does not mean they are not struggling physically or mentally behind the scenes. Without awareness and understanding, many patients are left feeling misunderstood, unsupported, or pressured to live as though their condition does not exist.

Sadly, this lack of awareness is not limited to the general public. Many families and patients have also experienced situations where medical professionals outside of specialist cardiac teams struggle to fully understand the seriousness and complexity of single ventricle heart conditions. This can leave patients and families constantly having to explain, advocate, and fight to ensure the right care and understanding is given.

Little Hearts Matter is the only national UK charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by single ventricle heart conditions. They provide vital support, information, advocacy, and community for families navigating an incredibly difficult journey.

Every donation, share, and conversation helps — whether that is funding support services, improving awareness, or helping families feel less alone.

Thank you so much for your support ❤️