Sophie ran the London Marathon 2025 for Heart Research UK.
At 24 weeks pregnant, we found out our baby had a congenital heart disease. On that day, our lives flipped upside down. We were thrown into a world we knew nothing about, one we were barely even aware existed. Our baby had a condition called transposition of the great arteries (TGA), whereby the two main arteries of the heart were essentially the wrong way around.
Leon was born and, within four hours, had a small procedure to allow his heart to pump oxygenated blood around his body until he was strong enough to have open heart surgery. At six days old, Leon had that surgery. It took seven hours for surgeons to operate on his walnut-sized heart, switching his arteries to the correct position.
Heart conditions weren’t something we ever envisaged affecting us, but sadly, the reality is almost all of us will be affected. Heart Research UK funds incredible research into the prevention, treatment, and cure of Heart Disease, which is why I am running the London Marathon 2025 for them.
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Your stories inspire others help us take on heart diseases
Chris is a dedicated member of the Patient and Public Network. Driven by his personal experience of heart diseases, he hopes to help create a future where lesser lives are lost to heart diseases.
Gilbert is a dedicated member of the Patient and Public Network at Heart Research UK, helping build the future of innovation and patient care.
Peter is an active member of the Patient and Public Network, using his own experiences to help inspire the research that will support people in the years ahead.
Jaye is a member of the Patient and Public Network, using her lived experience to help shape the heart research of tomorrow.