Story
Hi I’m Jack, welcome to my JustGiving page, here’s a little bit about me (spoiler alert I’m a raggy doll).. I was born in ‘97 and only 3 days in I was diagnosed with Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) which is a birth defect of the heart meaning oxygen-rich blood does not return from the lungs to the left side of the heart. Instead, the oxygen rich blood returns to the right side of the heart. I’ve had multiple open heart surgery's to correct this and have been left a hole in my heart, along with TAPVR I was born with tracheo-oesophageal fistula this is where connection in one or more places between the esophagus (the tube that leads from the throat to the stomach) and the trachea (the tube that leads from the throat to the windpipe and lungs) are not connected. These were both corrected at birth. As you can imagine my medical note list was huge (It was in fact brought in on a sack truck). Growing up I was diagnosed with asthma, this is a very common long-term lung condition with symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, feeling breathless or a tight chest (Try breathing though a straw this is what it feels like without a toot on my inhaler). Anyway enough about me… I’m also running for several friends and family members that suffer with lung diseases including asthma, COPD & lung cancer. There are so many lung diseases, but they all have one thing in common, they leave you fighting for your breath. Having watched my grandparents suffer and pass away of such a frightening disease is the reason I’m running for Team Breathe. So with my ailments in hand and Frank Spencer attitude I’m here to smash the London Marathon !
Asthma + Lung UK are the only UK charity that fights for everyone's right to breathe. Every pound I'm able to raise will help this fight I'd be very grateful for any donations you could make!
We tend to take being able to breathe easily for granted, but imagine not being able not to get your breath doing everyday tasks