Alex to run the Brentwood Half Marathon after undergoing open heart surgery

By the Beresfords Marketing Team - 13th March 2015

Manager of Beresfords Chelmsford Branch, Alex Beresford, is taking part in the Brentwood Half Marathon in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF) after undergoing open heart surgery at the age of 26. 

First diagnosed in September 2013 as a heart murmur, Alex was referred for an ultrasound and a CT scan which identified both a leaky bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and an aneurysm of the aortic root. During February 2014 Alex underwent open heart surgery at the Royal Brompton hospital in Chelsea where the revolutionary ‘David Procedure’ was used to fix both the aneurysm and the valve. Now just over a year later Alex will be treading the pavements of Brentwood to take part in the annual half marathon.

Alex comments: “I’ve been working with Christian O’hare at the self-holistic gym in Chelmsford who specialises in sports health management and has worked previously with people who have undergone heart operations. I set a goal with Christian to complete this challenge before I had the operation. I like to challenge myself but I have of course got the green light from my cardiologists.”

“My training has involved runs around Chelmsford and sessions on the treadmill. I ran 10 miles recently and that is the furthest I’ve ever ran.”

The BHF have funded research which has revolutionised the way in which heart conditions are diagnosed and treated and Alex is truly thankful for their work: “If it wasn’t for their work I may have not been able to undergo the procedure that I did. I hope to raise £300 for the charity and in conjunction with friends who are also taking part the total we hope to exceed is £1,000.”

From all at Beresfords we wish Alex the best of luck. If you would like to donate to Alex please visit www.justgiving.com/Alexander-Beresford1/