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September is Vascular Disease Awareness month  and this year it also marks 20 years since my dad, Tommy Sommerville, died on 24th September 2000 from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). 

I’m going to be joined by Ruth Fleck (who has been a great friend for almost this long too!) in taking on the  Causeway Coast Marathon Hike on 26th September to raise awareness of AAA and support the Circulation Foundation. 

The Circulation Foundation is a relatively small and unknown charity but it is the only one dedicated to vascular disease in the UK. Every donation they receive makes a difference to the work they can do to research conditions like AAA and support people and their families affected by it.

In the years since he died we now have an AAA Screening Programme in NI (since 2013) run by a team in Belfast who have been really helpful to me with advice since deciding to do this. Their work is helping detect AAA so other people’s Dads and loved ones can be offered treatment before it is too late. There are often no symptoms so this screening is vital and they work they do invaluable. Encourage your dads, husbands, grandads, uncles and brothers to take up the screening and get talking about it. 

If you want to know more.... https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-screening-programme

In the years since he died I’ve heard it known as the silent killer which in our case was so true, completely unexpected and devastating for Mum and I. It is still devastating families every single week in NI alone. 

So for anyone who remembers Tommy, his love of birds, art, cars and practical jokes who would like to donate in his memory or in support of us (and our first marathon!), we are very grateful. 

Laura & Ruth

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