Thank you for visiting my JustGiving page. I am taking part in the Great North Run in Newcastle to raise awareness about Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) and to show that those born with CHD can take part in exercise and achieve their goals in life and should reach for the stars. I previously got through the GNR ballot process in January 2009 but had to pull out later in the year after discovering my aortic valve was failing. On Sunday 16 September 2012 I hope to achieve my dream of being part of the GNR and raising funds for the Children’s Heart Federation who do so much for children and their families with CHD.

I was born with a biscupid aortic valve and coarctation of the aorta. I had open heart surgery at the age of 13 to repair my valve. In 2009, I underwent open heart surgery to replace my valve with a mechanical one.

My daughter was born in 1993. During a 3 day check the Doctors discovered a heart murmur. Further tests showed she had a hole in the heart but then later on, as is sometimes the case with new born babies, the murmur disappeared. However, she suffered breathlessness in her first year at high school during a cross country run; further investigations did not give a clear answer. Due to my impending surgery in 2009 and the risk of CHD being hereditary, my Cardiologist wrote to my GP and suggested she should be referred to the Heart Unit I attended to be checked, this did happen and thankfully we were advised it was an innocent murmur.