Heart attack survivor from Knaresborough urges residents to help fund vital research after mistaking chest pains for ingestion

Rory Stanbridge, 70, was rushed to hospital after mistaking chest pains for ingestion while he was working at a conference for chartered surveyors in London 18 months ago.

Rory is now fighting fit again, and ran the length of a marathon over just one week in May, raising £1,200 for the British Heart Foundation.

He said: “It was only when the surgeon showed me what my heart was like before they operated that I realised how serious it was. It made me realise how close they were to losing me. I just burst into tears and thanked the paramedics for all their help because they didn’t think I would make it.

“My wife Joyce was in Harrogate at the time, and she was panicking. I don’t smoke, I’m not overweight, and I’m relatively healthy so it just shows how heart disease can affect anyone. That’s why the British Heart Foundation's research is so important, and why I took in the MyMarathon challenge.

“I felt really chuffed to have completed it in such a short time, but it was all the people who sponsored me which spurred me on. I’d encourage everyone to take on the challenge, because now everyone can say they’ve run a marathon and the money you raise will help make a difference to so many people.”

Anyone signed up to the MyMarathon challenge complete it in their own time - whether it is over four hours, four days, or four weeks.

More than 30,000 people took part last year, raising over £1 million for the charity.

To find out more or to sign up for the MyMarathon, go to: www.bhf.org.uk/mymarathon