This is a story about luck. Sort of.

In March 2022, our dad Tom had a no-warning heart attack while on the train home from work. At that point, he had no history of cardiac problems, was on no medication, and was a fit and active 65 year old. Fewer than 10% of people who suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest will survive. The likelihood was that he would be one of the 90%.

But he had a bit of good luck. The nearby passengers noticed, self organised, pulled the cord, contacted the train Manager, and initiated 20 minutes of life-saving CPR.  The train reversed back to the platform at Paddington (sorry and thank you commuters). There, paramedics were waiting with a defibrillator, which shocked his heart back into rhythm. He went on to have coronary artery bypass surgery, and is now back at work, playing tennis, doing DIY… He’s even planning to cycle from London to Brighton next year. All that from a lucky piece of timing!

…Except obviously there was more to it than that. Without the train passengers taking action, without the high-quality CPR, without the speedy defibrillation on the platform at Paddington, without the top-quality surgical care he received, without all the nurses, radiographers, therapists and support staff at Hammersmith Hospital (thanks guys!), there's no way that Tom would be in the shape he is today. As has probably become clear to many over the last couple of years, when things get scary, you don't just need luck - you need expert care.

Every day in the UK, about 180 people die of coronary heart disease. That's one person every eight minutes. Since 1961, the UK death rate from cardiovascular disease has dropped by more than 75% – and through funding further medical research, organisations like the British Heart Foundation are trying to keep improving those odds.

By running the London Marathon in April 2023, we hope to encourage more people to learn CPR and raise awareness of the brilliant work done by the British Heart Foundation. As many of you will know, we have grown up watching our mum run this amazing race, and we can't wait to be on the other side of the barrier soaking up the atmosphere in a different way. Thanks in advance for your support:  advice, training plans, offers of sports massage and pasta are also all welcome.

Rosie & Jack