On the 13th Sepember 2013, I unexpectedly suffered a heart attack at the age of 40.  I was fitted with a single stent to remedy the blocked
artery and prescribed preventative medications that I continue to take.

Experiencing a critical illness at such a young age was a massive shock to my system.  To feel invincible as we all do to a degree and then have your life flash before your eyes is not easy to deal with.  I experienced
both denial and resentment in addition to the physical trauma my body
had experienced.

I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I owe
my successful recovery and rehabilitation to the Bristol Heart
Institute.  In particular the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit who with
limited resources helped me rehabilitate both physically and mentally.

I have for some time been looking for a way to give back to the Hospital
that greatly helped me in my time of need.  Recently the stars aligned
for me and I met the team at Above + Beyond a local Bristol charity that
 raises funds for the hospitals that sit within University Hospitals
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.  The timing could not have been better
with the 3rd Anniversery of my heart attack coinciding with the Bristol
Half Marathon which in turn coincided with Above + Beyond reaching out for help in respect of the Bristol Heart Institute the very same
hospital I have felt indebted to. To me this felt like the perfect
opportunity to raise some money and give back to hospital that helped me so much. Therfore, on Sunday 25th September 2016 I will be running the Bristol Half Matathon in Aid of Above + Beyond for the Benefit of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit at The Bristol Heart Institute.

All donations received with gratitude.