Pair back Beating Hearts in Bradford (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pair back Beating Hearts in Bradford

8:47am Tuesday 7th July 2009 in

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A mother and son put in a marathon effort to raise more than £700 for the Beating Hearts in Bradford Appeal.

Barbara McGuffie, 63, and her 22-year-old son Omar Hussain, took part in the Edinburgh Marathon in aid of the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) appeal, which is being backed by the Telegraph & Argus.

The appeal is aiming to raise £105,000 to fund a 3D echocardiograph machine for Bradford Royal Infirmary which will help doctors make more informed and speedier diagnoses for heart patients in the district.

The pair decided to raise money for the appeal after Omar, a lifeguard at Shipley Pool, was on duty last year when a member of Bradford Heart Start Group suffered a heart attack and died.

Retired teacher Barbara, who is a swimming coach at the pool, agreed to the marathon at her son’s suggestion, even though she had never done any running before.

And even though doctors advised her not to do the run in May because of a knee injury, she went ahead anyway with the help of a steroid injection.

“It was brilliant and I’d love to do it next year, though I haven’t quite persuaded Omar that he’d like to do it!” she said. “We did it in just over six hours, my knee hurt from mile two to mile 11, by which time I didn’t feel it any more. In the carnival atmosphere of people shouting we got lots of positive encouragement.

“While we were still in Scotland the heart patients at the pool raised another £20 for Omar so between us we should have raised more than £700.

“We are both really pleased to be supporting the Beating Hearts in Bradford Appeal as the money goes to buy something at the Bradford Royal Infirmary. Sadly, most people know someone who has died of a heart attack and I really hope that people will get on board and support or help out with the appeal.”

Sue Green, Beating Hearts in Bradford appeal manager, said: “Thanks to Barbara and Omar for joining the British Heart Foundation’s heart runners team and supporting the local appeal.

“With support like this we really can beat heart disease together.

“To think Barbara and Omar had never done any running before and they have accomplished this to help heart patients is really an inspiration to all of us.”

e-mail: claire.lomax@telegraphandargus.co.uk

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