Hi everyone,

I am running the Taunton Half Marathon (3rd April) and the Virgin Money London Marathon (24th April) to raise money to help towards buying a new portable Echocardiography machine for the Royal Brompton Hospital's paediatric unit. 

A little background for anyone that doesn't know... In mid-2012 and shortly after my 21st birthday, I was diagnosed at the Royal Brompton with a congenital heart condition called Atrial Septal Defect (a hole in my heart measuring 15 x 4mm), after I began regularly collapsing completely out of the blue. This came as a huge shock as I'd always been fit and healthy and nothing had ever been picked up when I was a baby. I had regular checkups, scans and tests, but over the next 3 years my symptoms became significantly worse before I ended up needing open heart surgery on January 29th 2015, where my surgeon Professor Shore and his team repaired 2 holes and sutured a leaky AV valve. I spent 8 days in hospital and the next 6 months recovering, and I will continue to be monitored and have followup care there for the rest of my life. 

The support I received when I was in hospital was second to none and I will forever be grateful to all the doctors, nurses, surgeons and consultants who have looked after me and been very open and honest with me and my family through every stage of my diagnosis and treatment. The reason I am still here today is because of the incredible care, expertise and round-the-clock support of their staff and I want to give back to them so they can continue to help other people who desperately need it. 

I originally had a place in the 2015 London Marathon but had to withdraw due to the huge risk it would have put on my heart, so in 2016 I am determined to raise as much money as we possibly can for this amazing hospital to give back and thank all of the people who have cared for me during my time spent there over the last 3 years. 

Also a HUGE special thanks to my Dad, Becca, Sylvie, Becky, Shanaze and James for joining me in the Taunton half marathon and helping me fundraise before I attempt the 26 miles in London!!!

I wrote a piece going into more detail about my story for the Somerville Foundation which you can read in full here:
http://www.thesf.org.uk/community/inspirational-stories/open-heart-surgery-at-23-years-old/

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WHAT YOUR DONATIONS WILL HELP BUY:
An Echocardiogram, like the one that helped my diagnosis, is a non-invasive test that provides cardiologists with a survey of the heart using an ultrasound method. 

To read more about why the RBHT is buying this machine, visit:
http://rbhcharity.org/paediatric-echo-appeal/

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I would really appreciate anything you could give, thank you so much for your support :)

You can also donate by texting 70070 with the message:
HDRB99
£5 (or whatever amount you choose)