Thank you for reading my story.  I was born with an Atrial Septal Defect (ASD).  Every ASD is unique and in 2010, through the marvel of a special MRI scan, it was discovered that mine consists of a large hole affecting the right side of my heart which is stretched and now dilated (enlarged). I also have a blood vessel going into the right side of my heart which should be going into the left side, meaning that I have a bit too much of the wrong sort of blood going through my lungs.  

So, I hear you ask, how does this affect me?  Well, my heart is actually amazing at how it copes with its little disability.  I get out of breath more easily than others (as the ASD affects the levels of oxygen in my lungs), get regular ectopic heart beats (extra beats that everyone gets sometimes), occasionally get funny heart rhythms and can sometimes get pretty tired out.  

I am so grateful to live in a country where I have the opportunity to have surgery to fix my heart, and the plan is to do this in 2016. Due to other health issues and major surgery since 2010, I have not been physically well enough to have open heart surgery.  It is a big operation and the timing has to be right, with the risks reduced as much as possible.  

My plan is to get fitter and lose a bit of weight, and what better way to do this than raise money for the wonderful British Heart Foundation, who tirelessly research into how to protect, prevent and cure heart disease, and how to fix hearts like mine.  

The bike challenge is 27 miles.  Which I didn't think sounded that far until I drove it!  I've just got a new bike (didn't even know how to use gears), and a challenging training plan.  I've just had the go ahead from my cardiologist that it is safe for me to do - so I'm all set. Eek! 

I'll be updating a training blog regularly to share how I'm getting on. Thank you for your support and encouragement.

Love Lucy x

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