🥳Happy New Year everyone!

💙Wow! 2023 was a difficult one.

💙In May, my husband Sam began to feel unwell. Over the next few months he progressively felt worse and we visited the GP and hospital many times.

💙Due to Sam’s age (32), no-one suspected the reason he was feeling so unwell could be heart failure.

💙In September 2023, his health continued to deteriorate and he was admitted into hospital with dilated cardiomyopathy and an ejection fraction heart function of just 10%. Having been previously a very healthy and active individual, none of us could have imagined this diagnosis.

💙Luckily, Sam’s heart condition was finally discovered, but only just in time. It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened if he hadn’t been admitted when he was.

💙Every week in the UK at least 12 apparently fit and healthy young people die of undiagnosed cardiac conditions.

💙That is why, over the next few months, my goal is to raise money for the CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) charity.

💙Having been diagnosed myself with resistant malignant hypertension (causing damage in my heart) in Nov 2022, it was important for me to do something to raise awareness for heart conditions in younger age groups. I would also like to complete an activity that helps me on my way to having a healthier heart.

💙Over the next 12 weeks, I will be swimming the distance of the English Channel- 1,352 lengths to be exact!

💙I would be so grateful if you would consider sponsoring my swim to help me raise money for CRY.

💙With your donation, CRY can reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD) by working with cardiologists and family doctors to establish good practice and appropriate screening facilities to promote and protect the cardiac health of our young.

💙By supporting CRY you will help save young lives from these potentially fatal cardiac conditions.

💙See how your support can help by visiting www.c-r-y.org.uk