At 34 weeks pregnant, we were told that our son’s heart was failing to work as it should and had been for some time. Diagnosed with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), Wilbur’s heart was causing health complications for both him and me. At the time, he was given a very low chance of survival.

For two weeks, we received round the clock care at the Chelsea and Westminster, while they attempted to treat him. Unfortunately, he failed to respond and was eventually delivered by emergency caesarean. He was immediately transferred to the Royal Brompton, where his heart continued to struggle, requiring resuscitation and repeated treatment to bring him back to a normal heart rate.

There is little known about how to treat heart conditions that develop before birth, but the care Wilbur and I received over these two months was world class (under one of the world’s top rated foetal cardiology units) and if there was someone to be looking after us again, I would pick these two teams every time.

However, I am acutely conscious that there will be hospitals in other areas of the UK and the world, where doctors would not have known what to do to help a baby in Wilbur’s condition.

This is why, on 22 June 2024, I will be walking 370km over seven days from Norfolk to the Isle of Wight in aid of the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals Charity.

The money I raise will go to vital research into a range of foetal cardiology conditions, alongside supporting ongoing fellowships and additional training positions for doctors all over the UK. My hope is that every baby facing the same challenges gets the same outcome as Wilbur, irrespective of where they are cared for.

I will be walking over a marathon a day (approx. 50km) for seven consecutive days, which will equate to around 12 hours walking per day. Given that the original plan, before I’d done a training walk, was to do this with Wilbur on my back, it’s fair to say I’ve underestimated the task ahead. However, the treatment Wilbur received changed the course of Billy’s and my life and seven days of sore feet will pale into insignificance compared to that.

I am hugely appreciative of any contribution and can promise regular updates on morale and wonderful photos of the suburbs of London as I pass through. Frankly, if I survive another month married to my training coach, I deserve at least some pennies.

If anyone fancies joining for an hour or so, let me know - I’ll post details about my route soon!