On the 6th of November 2020, we lost my beautiful mum, Anne, suddenly and unexpectedly to a suspected pulmonary embolism.

As one of the most cheerful people in the world, many wouldn't think that mum battled through a number of difficulties over the past six years. After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 and undergoing intense treatment, mum later experienced heart failure as a side effect of chemotherapy in 2016.

Despite being given the all-clear, those who have experienced heart failure in the past are at a high risk of recurrence throughout their lifetime.

According to the British Heart Foundation, heart and circulatory diseases cause more than a quarter of all deaths in the UK. That's almost 170,000 deaths each year – an average of one every three minutes in the UK.

To help us remember my beautiful mum, we would like to ask for donations to the British Heart Foundation, to help fund vital research into cures and treatments for heart conditions. Our hope is that, one day, families won't have to experience heartbreak like ours.

BHF Resources:

• https://www.bhf.org.uk/what-we-do
• https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/chemotherapy
  

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.