I don't quite know where to start with this. My natural starting point is an apology. Something I am trying to stop doing.But I kind of am sorry I am having to ask this of people... Here is why...

Years of investment in my health and wellbeing - eating, sleeping, moving well... and knowing all the time it is not a guarantee to health. But to do all this, and then have a genetic heart condition diagnosed in my late 40s, I am determined to make sure my investment of time, effort and self-care for the last 47 years do not go to waste! And to do that, I need a little help making the financial investment to get the procedure needed to sort my heart out.

In late 2024 I became more and more aware of a funny feeling in my chest. It started as a feeling of butterflies but in my chest. Gradually it became stronger, more regular to the point I felt dizzy, sick, headachy, couldn't sleep. Following initial referrals and heart monitoring throughout 2025 with the NHS, I received a diagnosis in December 2025 of Atrial Fibrillation - a relatively common condition particularly among the elderly. With no underlying cause identified, and nothing I can do to change it, the medications began. After 2 months of medication, I am no longer experiencing the debilitating episodes of atrial fibrillation. However, the dose of medication required to achieve this is so strong I experience terrible dizziness, headaches and fatigue. With two kids, work, and a business that I run, I am not one to sit around. But I have had to! And I will continue to for the sake of my longer term health. The good news is there is a relatively straightforward procedure that will definitively treat the condition I have. It is called a cryo pulmonary vein isolation. And it costs £18,000. Raising these funds will enable me to get this procedure and get my heart doing what it needs to do.

I am determined to raise this money. Raising funds via GoFundMe is something I never thought I would have to do. And I am not sure how I feel about it now that I am doing it. If this message inviting you to support me gets your goat or you feel another cause is more worthy - I ask that you do what is right for you and put your donation elsewhere. If you feel you can donate what you can to help me over this hurdle so I can keep building the life I have with my wee family, I would be very grateful. As someone who willingly donates to causes that I feel worthy, I think there will be people in my circles from life now and past that may be willing and able to put what they can afford towards my goal of getting my heart back to where it needs to be. Whether you donate or not, I appreciate all the support I get in all the forms it comes in.

For those that know me, know I have been really proud to launch my own business in the last 12 months. Launching Well Gutsy - a service that encourages the use of physical activity, skills and confidence to help others tackle life challenges by living life guts first with the energy and strength that lasts a lifetime. Creating Well Gutsy has been the launch of my future (after a pretty tough spell of life that needed me to be the gutsiest girl I have ever been!). Having this unexpected health diagnosis has presented me with another challenge to live life guts first. So I am determined that this health hiccup will not put the brakes on my business, family life, or bring new challenges for me to earn the income needed to keep things going. Getting my heart healthy with this procedure will allow me to live life with all my heart and all my guts to be the best I possibly can be - with my kids, doing my job, running my wee business. My pledge to all who invest in me, is that I will put every ounce of energy into making life positive, fun and healthy to keep my healthy heart beating as long as I can!

Thank you for taking the time to read my story and hear my ask.