HELP SIMON GET OVER THE FINISH LINE THIS WEEKEND AT HIS FIFTH AND FINAL TRIATHLON !!

Hello everyone - thanks for taking the time to visit my dedicated charity page to help raise much needed awareness and funds for a heridatory heart condition called "Brugada Syndrome". This is in fact a charity quite personal now to me, my family and many many more out there, so please do read on as you really can make a difference..

Brugada Syndrome (BS), is a heridatory condition that effects the electrical conduction system of the heart resulting in episodes of very fast and or / irregular heartbeats that can end in blackouts or in some cases sudden cardiac arrest and/or death.

In August 2012, I was diagnosed with this condition when getting checked out for some irregularities via ECG at the JR in Oxford. None of my family nor friends had heard of this condition, nor knew of the potential consequences. Therefore I took it personally to spread the word, drive as much awareness for "Brugada Syndrome" via news/paper mediums and ask you guys to help raise enough monies to fund a potentially life-saving heart defibrillator.

It has been decided when the target of £2000 is reached, with the help of Arrythmia Alliance and Oxford council, the defibrillator will be sited in the centre of Summertown, a small family hub in Central/North Oxford. Please read below if you wish to learn more of the story and donate for the cause..

~100.000 people a year die from sudden cardiac death in the UK alone, many of which have a very unknown heart defect called Brugada Syndrome, of whom passed away and were likely unaware they had this, nor any heart condition whatsoever. Mr Fabrice Muamba, a Premiership footballer who had a near fatal attack during a game in 2012, was an example of this which made headlines.

Although some genes for Brugada have been identified and sequenced, the list is certainly not complete. It is therefore impossible to be sure that any patient does not have Brugada Syndrome (B/S) even if a genetic screening, with a blood test or mouth swab, is negative.  

So with that lack of knowledge locally and nationwide, I decided to go against doctors orders and train real hard. The focus being to complete 5 major endurance events (Triathlons/long distance events) inside 5 months from June - October. These included; Cotswold Triathlon, Blenheim Triathlon, Dorney Lakes 10k, Oxford Triathlon and am finishing on 29th September at Dorney for a final full Triathlon in front of friends and family. The purpose was 2-fold; 

1) drive as much awareness of the condition through Oxfordshire/nationally via TV/radio and newspaper mediums. 

2) achieve a financial goal with the help of family/friends to raise £2000. the proceeds will afford a secure, encased and protected AED (Automated Defibrillator) to be positioned on the high street of Summertown, Oxford. This will serve a thriving, family-friendly community of ~25.000 directly and ~100.000 in the wider area of North/Central Oxford.

Arrythmia Alliance a national charity trust has put its full weight to support me in driving wider awareness of Brugada Syndrome, as have BBC Oxford and the Oxford mail. With your help, we can reach an even wider audience and moreover educate our communities as to the potential symptoms to watch out for, check ups to have, with the focus of saving lives. 

You could genuinely help save a life by your donation so PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pull out the card and contribute as little or as much as you can afford....

Thank you.

Simon