I’m Jacob and this is my story:

I am currently 13 years old. I had heart complications at birth, was very poorly and at 11 weeks old I had an operation to repair a coarctation of the aorta (a narrowing of the valve that restricts blood flow) I have recovered well but have a bicuspid valve (a leaky valve which may in time need replacing) which is monitored annually. As a result I struggle more than most with exercise and stamina but nonetheless keep myself as fit as I can!

Due to my history I am passionate about raising money and also awareness for the British Heart Foundation. I raised money from a 50k run across February in 2020 and as a result got awarded Bro Radio’s young person of the year and a BHF young heart heroes award at a prestigious event In London. This has only made me more ambitious about helping even more!

For this next challenge, myself and dad are aiming to cycle from Holyhead, Anglesey to Wormshead, Gower - 204 miles over 4 days with overnight stops in Porthmadog, Aberystwyth and Llandeilo. I very much welcome your support and/or sponsorship as this is set to be a great challenge!

The BHF has helped halve the number of people dying from heart and circulatory disease in the UK but sadly every day hundreds of people lose their lives. 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, but every pound helps so please give what you can to help me hit my target. Thanks!