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The Big Walk

This September I will be taking part in The Big Walk and will be undertaking the One Day Challenge to raise money for lung disease research at the University of Sheffield.  More information about The Big Walk can be found at: www.shef.ac.uk/big-walk

The Big Walk combines two key events - The Pennine Way and the One Day Walking Challenge.

In early September, 21 alumni, staff and friends will set off from Scotland and walk the full Pennine Way (including Edale to Sheffield) covering 286 miles in 15 days. On the final day, on the 17th September, the One Day Challenge will see myself and over 100 other individuals from the University join them for the walk from Edale to Sheffield covering over 18 miles.

We are doing this to raise funds for Lung Disease research at the University of Sheffield, specifically our leading research in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension - a life-threatening condition affecting the lungs and the right side of the heart.

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) is a rare but devastating condition. Sadly, most of the 500 or so patients diagnosed annually in the UK die from progressive heart failure within 5 years.  This is a worse prognosis than most cancers, and although medical therapies can alleviate symptoms and, at best, slow progression there is currently no cure for PAH.

PAH begins when tiny arteries in the lungs become narrowed or blocked. This puts an enormous strain on the heart as it works harder to pump blood through the lungs. PAH is a very serious condition that becomes progressively worse, causing the heart muscle to weaken and eventually fail.

Our Research

Sheffield is a major international centre for the diagnosis, treatment and research of this condition. We are already making exciting discoveries that we hope will lead to better treatments and ultimately defeat this condition. The money we raise from this event will accelerate our research and help us to develop and test new treatments and make them available for patients as quickly as possible.

Thank you for supporting the Big Walk, together we can make a real difference to the lives of people with pulmonary arterial hypertension.

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