In 2011 we received the heartbreaking news that my wonderful twin brother Craig had passed away following a road traffic accident. What followed was quite a blur, but in the midst of our shock and grieving my Parent's and I were posed with the question 'would you like to consider organ donation?'.

This was a question and a topic I had never personally thought much about, for myself, let alone for a relative - yet our answer came easily and unanimously as a 'yes'. 

My brother was kind, caring and thoughtful and we all agreed he would be happy to help in anyway he could. Various organ's were donated to people who had been waiting patiently for a chance to be kept alive and it's amazing to think modern medicine allows us to be able to do this. 

The most stand out donation was his heart. The recipient was a young male who, as well as waiting for a transplant, was also awaiting the birth of his first child. Seeing how organ donation can impact others so directly from a donor point of view is unbelievable and I have also been able to see the life-line it throws from the recipient side too.

The charity I am raising money for, 'The Love Hearts Appeal', was set up by my wonderful friend Cat, who in 2006 aged 15, received a heart transplant at GOSH. Again, seeing first hand how someones generosity allowed a beautiful friend of mine to thrive really is so special. 

'The Love Hearts Appeal' funds groundbreaking research that
could help save the lives of children undergoing heart transplants. The project aims to understand the cause of the most common reason for transplant failure and understand what steps could be taken to overcome it.

So - in memory of my twin brother Craig, to celebrate my lovely friend Cat and to promote the power and kindness of organ donation, the time feels right to challenge myself like never before. My three challenges form my version of a deconstructed Ironman: I will run the Brighton Marathon in April, cycle the Prudential 100 in August and swim the Serpentine in September. 

Any support, donations and words of encouragement are welcomed with open arms and I hope the conversation of organ donation may now be just that little less scary for some people out there.

Much love, Fern x