Hello! 👋🏻 My name is Katie George, I am Colin George’s daughter ❤️ and I am also Mummy to my very own little heart warrior ❤️

I wanted to talk about my own reason as to why I am running the TCS London Marathon on the 21st of April 2024 ❤️

My Daddy had a heart condition and he had a lengthy battle of 24 years with it before he lost his life. He had multiple open heart surgeries, had a pacemaker fitted, triple heart bypass, stents fitted and another pacemaker replaced in the hope it would help his heart. Growing up my Dad was really poorly and to have had him in my life for 14 years was honestly a miracle due to how severe his condition was.Growing up my Dad was constantly in and out of hospital due to his heart. And I’ll be honest it really upset and scared me because I couldn’t imagine a life without him in mine. He was my best friend and Dad all in one. It also meant that we were constantly on the look out for heart attacks and strokes and at times had to administer CPR on him especially multiple times in the ending stage of his life. It was horrific.

Sadly, they did everything they could but he went under the heart failure clinic after a long battle with his heart disease. After having a fall on the hospital ward, he suffered with a brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull and had a bleed in his eye. He underwent brain surgery but the bleed reoccurred. The brain haemorrhage exacerbated his heart condition and caused him to suffer chronically with seizures that would stop his heart, and sadly after a long and painful fight, my Dad passed away on the 9th of April 2012. Everyday since he passed there’s not one day that goes by that I don’t think of him, and everyday for the rest of my life I will miss him ❤️ He was the best Dad, husband, uncle, now heavenly Grandad and friend anyone could ever have 🤍 I was so lucky to have him as my Dad and although the time may have been short, his love for me and his family will last a lifetime ❤️ He was so strong and despite everything he went through he did it with a smile on his face. I don’t know how he did it, but he did ❤️ He taught me so much about life, but the only thing I still don’t understand and never will is why life had to be without him. It was such a cruel way for him to die and the effects of that will last a lifetime.

As you can imagine to have been given a place in the London Marathon which will be 12 years since he left this earth, meant a lot to me that I can do something to remember my Dad, especially after losing him as a young teenager ❤️

I have gone on to have two sons and I am a single mum. My son was diagnosed with a CHD and had to have surgery in July last year to save his life. Having my own heart warrior is another reason I applied to push myself to do this run ❤️ it’s not something I ever expected my son would go through, but I’m forever grateful that my son is here as he nearly went into heart failure ❤️ I am in awe of his strength and despite everything he has been through he goes through it with a smile on his face ❤️ He is the most happiest boy despite everything that has happened and I think he is incredible ❤️ He will require lifelong cardiac care and any future surgery and procedures will be determined as he gets older.

I only started running in June last year and I’ve never ran a marathon before. It is a big target, but to raise money in the hope it helps people like my Daddy and my son to give back to the BHF I will try my best for them. The BHF was also my Dads favourite charity and their work is vital as the same surgery my son had, my Dad also had too and it was created by the BHF ❤️

I really appreciate you visiting my page. It's only thanks to support from people like us that the BHF can create new treatments and discover new cures. £24 could pay for two hours of research by an early career scientist, and £15 can help provide nursing care. Every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target. It is extremely appreciated and I’m genuinely so grateful!

I will push my heart, for my Daddy and my son, to complete this marathon. Because everyday my Dad did, and everyday my son continues to do so ❤️ I am taking training extremely seriously and have already started 🏃‍♀️❤️

Thank you for your support, it means a lot ❤️

Katie x

If anyone would like to read about Cole, I will attach some articles which I was grateful to be given the opportunity by the BHF to share ❤️

https://www.thesun.co.uk/health/27142776/mum-told-baby-healthy-symptom-deadly-heart-condition-breastfeeding/amp/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-13274751/Doctors-said-son-healthy-heart-condition--I-hadn-t-pushed-diagnosis-died.html