Several weeks after this cover photo was taken, my beautiful mum, (Roberta) went to the Ulster hospital for an outpatients appointment due to ongoing chest pains she would suffer while walking or exercising.

To our surprise... she never left hospital again. Several weeks in the Ulster waiting, eventually she went for a valve replacement op in the Royal. Being in relatively good health, we had high hopes for an operation that would extend her life for years to come, but unfortunately after 2 attempts at the valve replacement, due to bleeding, then another op the same night to stop bleeding... she was critically ill in the CICU of RVH for the next 3 weeks. As we visited her every day, we noticed over time that the medication would get less, and the machines keeping her alive would drop of one by one. With more hope now than ever, eventually she woke up!!! We were delighted... she was able to eat small bites, make small conversation, video call the grand kids. She could sit up, and even manage to stand a few times. We thought some how she had defied the odds of the 25% chance they had given her. Needless to say, we wernt prepared for what came next. A leak from an artery, sedation, all the machines back, 3 more operations, 1 in the ward as she was to frail to be moved to the theatre... a week of torment... until eventually her poor body couldnt take anymore. On the 8th of June 2024, at around 10am, she sadly passed away in hospital with her family by her side. The rock of our family was gone, and our hearts were broke!!

The staff, surgeons, medical proffessionals where all fantastic, and tried their absolute upmost to save my mum for weeks on end. Jobs that no one realises just how stressful it must be to do day in day out. But without funding for medical improvements, research, new technology, none of what they done would be possible.

As my mum always banged on at me about my weight and my food intake... 1 year on... i cant think of anything more fitting than to raise funds by doing a sponsored weight loss.

For anyone that knows me, they will know that i absolutely love my food... so to stop eating rubbish, restrict my diet and stick to it, will be harder for me than any other challenge i can think of.

My aim is to reach 15 stone, (Current weight is 20 stone) and i intend to do it by the 6th of December 2025. My beloved mums birthday!

5 stone (70lbs) in 6 months will be no mean feat, so please get behind me and sponsor what you can!

I will keep the updates and photos coming as i progress.

Thank you in advance!!

More information about British Heart Foundation: We're the nation's heart charity. We help save lives with information, patient care and pioneering research. With your support, we're beating heart disease for good.