Hello! Thank you for sponsoring us two cousins - Jemima and Katrina - to run the Royal Parks Half Marathon for Somerville Heart Foundation.

As the daughter / niece of two cardiac specialists who have dedicated their careers to treating patients with heart conditions and complications, and whose grandma survived a massive heart-related scare back in 1994 and lived for more than 17 years after that, we know the importance of accessing holistic care - both medical and non-medical - to ensure people are able to live happier, longer and healthier lives.

Somerville Heart Foundation is the only UK-wide charity supporting adults and young people as they transfer to adult services, with all forms of Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) i.e. heart conditions and defects present from birth.

The charity was set up in 1993 by Professor Jane Somerville who recognised the need for a charity for this new and rapidly growing set of survivors.

It is estimated there are over 250,000 people in the UK who have survived into adulthood, with now more adults having the condition than children as around 90% now survive as opposed to 15% during the 1950s and 1960s.

SHF provides many of their non-medical and psychological needs so they can lead as fulfilled lives as possible, as well as campaigning to make sure the health services are there for their physical needs.

Thank once again. Your support is much appreciated. xxx