A WORCESTER teenager who was born with heart problems is calling on city residents to join her at the Worcester Hearty Walk to raise funds for a charity which helped changed her life.
Bethany Plumpton, 18, from St Johns, was born with heart valve problems, underwent her first surgery at just 13-months-old and is now waiting for a second heart valve operation.
Despite her condition being physically draining, Bethany will be completing the Worcester Hearty Walk on Sunday, April 30 to raise vital funds for the British Heart Foundation’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal.
The charity, which funds ground breaking research to help patients like Bethany, brings together young people with heart conditions through a network called ‘Meet@teenheart.’
“It means I can speak to people like myself who understand what it’s like to live with a heart condition and I’ve made some good friends,” Bethany said.
The Worcester Hearty Walk will start from Worcestershire County Cricket Ground at New Road, with the check-in desk opening at 9.15am and walkers will be able to set off between 10 and 10.30am.
Residents taking part choose to complete either a three or six mile circular walk, both along flat gravelled paths suitable for buggies and wheelchairs.
Last year, Bethany and her mum Wendy completed the walk and joined in a supermarket collection to help raise funds for the British Heart Foundation.
Wendy, whose own mum suffered from two heart attacks and her father died from heart failure at the age of 61, explained why this is a cause close to her heart.
“All these kids know what it’s like to live with a heart condition and have created their own teen heart support network,” she said.
“The Worcester Hearty Walk will help raise funds so that the BHF can continue to run groups like this.
“A lot of people see heart conditions as only affecting older people but it can affect anyone.
“There are so many worthy charities, but we support the BHF because of what they have done for us. We hope other families and young people will join us on the walk and raise as much sponsorship money as they can.”
Adult advance entry is available until Thursday, April 23 and costs £5. After that date entry will cost £8 including on the day registrations.
Visit www.bhf.org.uk/worcesterheartywalk to find out more about registering in advance for the heart walk, or call 0300 330 3322.
