Abou's Story

On the 15th May 2023, my brother and I heard the tragic news of our father having unexpectedly passed away after a long battle of heart disease which had first been revealed in 2020, and would give way to many scary nights in hospital beds and rehabilitation centers.

As a lifelong runner who had completed multiple marathons, had ambitions to complete a 100km ultramarathon before injury cancelled those plans, but most importantly, an incredible human being who used his passion for running to make shared memories with those around him, the revelation of his heart condition came as a big shock to our entire family. Nevertheless, after recovering, our dad still made it his goal to remain active, and in doing so started his quest to hike every single recognized trail in Luxembourg, and raising money for charity throughout the process, before he would inevitably be faced with yet another health scare in late 2022, which would unfortunately result in his passing a few months later.

As for myself, like many others, I picked up running during the pandemic in 2020, though as much as I enjoyed the sport, I couldn’t help but feel guilt from enjoying the activity that my dad no longer has access to. A few years later, while these feelings are not fully gone yet, running has helped me deal with the emotions following the loss of my father while serving as the source of some of my favorite memories.

On the 21st September 2025, I plan to run the Berlin Marathon, one of the most iconic races in the world, with the goal of qualifying for the 2026 London Marathon, a goal I had set myself when my father passed away. While he never got to run the London Marathon specifically, the London was one of his favorite places in the world, and with his passion for the marathon distance in particular, I am certain it would have been a dream of his to complete in the London Marathon, explaining my desire to try and qualify for it myself. More importantly though, I’m hoping to raise money for Heart Research UK.

As I’ve come to find out, heart health scares can hit you when you least expect it, with your life being at risk without any apparent external signs. I’ve witnessed first hand how hard doctors, surgeons, and all other parties involved have worked themselves to exhaustion to help my father, and other patients, and provide hope to those in need, and I would like to provide some support in the field of heart research, even if just financially.

In pursuing the passion that my father first opened my eyes to, I’m hoping to support in the fight against a silent killer that will likely impact all of us in one way or another over the course of our life.