Olivia's story

On April 23rd, 2023, I took on the challenge of running the London Marathon in honour of my beloved grandmother, Noonie, who tragically passed away a couple of years ago due to heart disease. Noonie was the most cheeky, loving, and extraordinary grandmother, and her sudden loss left a huge void in our family.

Noonie had her first heart attack a couple of years before her second. At the time, she attributed her discomfort to her bra being too tight, she didn’t recognise the symptoms and didn’t want to ‘cause a fuss.’ The days she waited before telling us and seeking critical medical treatment undoubtedly caused further stress and damage to her heart. It was devastating to learn that she dismissed the pain as something so minor, when it was actually life-threatening.

Sadly, a couple of years later, Noonie had a second and final heart attack, which took her life very suddenly. Losing her so quickly, with absolutely no warning, was heart-breaking, and it took us a long time to come to terms with what had happened. For me, her passing reinforced the importance of not only educating yourself about the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, but also never worrying about ‘making a fuss.’ If you’re in pain and something doesn’t feel right, it’s so important to seek immediate medical attention.

Through this marathon, I hoped not only to raise funds and awareness for Heart Research UK, but also to honour the memory of my incredible grandmother. I want to do my part in the fight against heart diseases and hopefully, help prevent other families from going through what ours did by spreading awareness of the signs of a heart attack.