I was diagnosed with Dilated Cardiomyopathy in 2006 and because of my deteriorating condition, I was assessed in the Freeman Hospital Newcastle Upon Tyne in September 2025. After being accepted onto the Urgent Heart Transplant List I was admitted to the Pre-Transplant Unit at the Freeman Hospital. Just four weeks after admission, I was in the fortunate position to receive an offer of a donor heart. Now 10 weeks post op, I hope to be fit enough to take up the BHFNI challenge to walk one mile per day in the month of February. I would like to highlight the huge nationwide need for organ donation as I have become friends with people who have been waiting for a heart transplant for years. Your sponsorship to my challenge, for which I am truly grateful, will go towards the Research into various heart conditions. Thank you for your help in continuing to save lives.

I'm helping to keep hearts beating this Heart Month by taking on the Walk for Hearts challenge throughout February to help fund lifesaving research.

Every three minutes, someone in the UK dies from cardiovascular disease. With your support, British Heart Foundation can power research that will enable people to live longer, healthier lives.