In July 2015 my brother Miles died suddenly and unexpectedly. He collapsed while jogging aged just 31.

We later discovered he had an inherited heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, or HCM. And he is not the only one.

1/500 people have HCM, or 120,000 people in the UK, most of whom are unaware they have the condition. But it can strike at any time as we tragically found out. It is the most common cause of young cardiac death.

Adding to the tragedy is the fact that the science exists to detect HCM. The action and awareness however do not. This can and must change.

In partnership with the British Heart Foundation, The Miles Frost Fund will raise £1.5m to pay for the training, nurses and equipment to roll out a national cascade testing model across the UK to locate the 120,000, and make sure they don’t meet Miles’ fate.

We have raised over £750,000 already. But have a long way to go.

In June this year, my brother George and I, along with 65 friends of Miles’ and ours will take on the grueling challenge of cycling over 360 miles across two countries from Milan to Monaco in 4 days. We aim to
raise as much of the outstanding £750,000 as possible.

The event, which expertly organized and overseen by the Quintessentially Foundation, will see a four day route of an average of 90 miles per day through Piedmont to reach Turin, before turning south towards Cuneo, through Liguaria down to the coast at Alassio. A final day of the Riviera will bring us to the principality of Monaco.

Those of you that know me well will be aware I have never tackled a major physical feat like this for charity before. Furthermore, this is the final fundraising year for the Miles Frost Fund before we are able to deploy the money raised and start saving lives. So this is the first and only time I will be asking you to back me in a physical challenge like this for a cause that could not be closer to my heart – ensuring that my brother’s death was not in vein and making sure other families do not need to needlessly suffer the pain that Mum, George and I have been through.

Thank you for taking the time read this far and for any donation you may be able to give.

Love,

Wilf.