Heart attack victim aims to give charity £10,000 boost

He was just 25 when he suffered a heart attack in February while out running and has had to take medication ever since.

Mr Timson, from Castleford, aims to raise the money for the British Heart Foundation in order to raise awareness of heart disease and to try to help combat the illness. He intends to raise the money within a year by running and participating in various events.

After complaining of chest pains, the father-of-one went to Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, where doctors initially ruled out a heart attack because of his fitness levels. However, further tests, revealed one of his arteries had collapsed and he underwent surgery to have a stent fitted. He will have to take medication for the rest of his life.

Mr Timson said: “It was such a shock. I never expected that I would be told anything like that. There seems to be no reason for it happening or no risk factors.

“I was a fit person and was told it was lucky that I was fit otherwise things may have been different. If I hadn’t gone to my doctor when I did, it could have been quite dangerous.”

After surgery, Mr Timson, who has a daughter Olivia, aged seven, underwent a programme of cardiac rehabilitation, where he met his current partner, fitness instructor Kathryn.

He said: “When people think of heart attacks they think about what they see on the television, someone grabbing their chest and falling to the floor. That’s not always how it happens. My pain was excruciating, but it started as an aching pain in my back.

“I hope that by fundraising, I can help raise awareness of heart attacks and make people realise that they don’t just happen to the elderly.”

He has set himself the challenge of raising £10,000 within a year for the British Heart Foundation and he has already completed the Nottingham Half Marathon and staged a charity fishing match. He also plans to organise a ball, an auction and a skydive.

Mr Timson has organised a Zumbathon at Knottingley Sports Centre from 6.45pm to 7.45pm on October 19. Tickets for the event are £5, and available from the sports centre.

To sponsor Mr Timson, visit www.justgiving.com/ben-timson