Braving the waves to help boost charity

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A KIND-HEARTED Droitwich mum will take the plunge this summer for a charity challenge in honour of her husband and late father in law.

Sarah Hennessey will join more than 1,000 participants in the 1.4 mile Bournemouth Pier to Pier Swim in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) on July 15.

The gruelling event challenges entrants to swim between Bournemouth and Boscombe piers and will have extra significance for Sarah.

Her husband Mark suffered a cardiac arrest as the result of a heart attack but battled back following two weeks in an induced coma.

However tragedy struck on the day he was released from critical care at the hospital when his father passed away following a heart attack after suffering from heart disease for a number of years.

Both events have spurred Sarah on to sign up for the swim and help raise money for the nation’s heart charity to help it continue to offer vital support and information to heart patients and families.

The 40-year-old said: “Mark’s heart attack was a real shock to us as he was only 43 and had just left work to go on his lunch break.

“His heart attack resulted in cardiac arrest but thanks to some amazing passers-by, who gave him immediate CPR until the

paramedics arrived and restarted his heart, he survived.

“He spent two weeks in an induced coma and suffered several complications. The odds of surviving an out of hospital cardiac arrest are only three per cent, but Mark managed to pull through and is making a fantastic recovery.”

“The care the BHF gave to my father-in-law and the information we received following Mark’s heart attack was invaluable and it’s because of the huge amount of help, support and expertise that people have given my family that I feel very passionate

about raising money to enable the BHF to help others.

“I hope the people of Worcestershire get behind me and help me to raise as much money as possible for such an worthwhile cause,” she added.

BHF regional event organiser, Andrew Coles, said: “Sarah’s story shows how heart disease can affect all generations of a family and I hope this encourages others to sign up for the event to raise much-needed sponsorship.

Registration for this event can only be done in advance and is £20 for adults and £10 for children.

For more information call 0800 169 3672, visit www.bhf.org.uk/pier2pier or e-mail westevents@bhf.org.uk.

Visit www.justgiving.com/Sarah-Hennessey to support Sarah and help her fund-raise for the BHF.

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