Heartbeat

A young man from Southampton who has undergone open-heart surgery twice had to endure sweltering temperatures during his sponsored walk for Wessex Heartbeat.

Simon Clarke (23), of The Polygon, was born with the congenital heart defect, Fallot's Tetralogy.
There were times in his life when he would become tired and breathless at just walking upstairs - now he has successfully completed a 45-mile sponsored walk in aid of Wessex Heartbeat.

Simon, who is the President of the Lions Club of Southampton, strode out over three days in June. His route took in various venues of Lions clubs in the area - Salisbury, Totton, Romsey, Eastleigh,and he arrived back in Southampton on Monday June 9. There to officially greet him at Bargate was The Right Worshipful Mayor of Southampton, Councillor Brian Parnell, and the Mayoress, Mary Parnell, who congratulated him on his fundraising feat.

"I had never done anything like this before," said Simon, a systems administrator with Carnival UK, based in Southampton. "If I'm honest it was no walk in the park! There were times when I had to question myself as to whether I should have really been doing it. "On the final day it was quite a painful experience. I had a real tightness across my chest and around my ribs. It was a real concern for the others who kept asking me if I was OK." Added Simon: "But we got there in the end and I can add it to the list of things I have achieved in my life."

Simon had corrective surgery as a 16-month-old baby, and had his second open-heart surgery at Southampton General Hospital in 1998, when a donor heart valve was fitted. He was in hospital for a week and convalesced at home for a month before returning to Weston Park Boys' School in Southampton. "When I had my last check-up I told that the donor valve is as good as it was back in 1998 when they put it in. There are still limits to what I can and can't do, but I'm determined to enjoy life to the full," he added.

Simon was accompanied on the sponsored walk by Richard Wilson-Smith, from the Totton and Eling Lions Club, who was raising money for Water Aid. Richard is the Zone Chairman for the Zone D area which encompasses the clubs the walkers were visiting.
Added Simon: "We would like to thank all those who sponsored us. We raised approximately £1,200 which is to be split between the two charities. "We would also like to express our gratitude for the support we received from the Salisbury, Totton, Romsey, Eastleigh and Southampton Lions Clubs, and Murphy Telecommunications for the use of radios for the event, and to Asda at Totton for providing refreshments."

If there is anyone would still like to make a contribution, please could they send cheques made payable to Southampton Lions Club to: Simon Clarke, Southampton Lions Club, 27 The Polygon, Southampton, SO15 2BP.

About Fallot's Tetralogy
• First described in 1888 by French physician, Etienne-Louis Arthur Fallot (1850-1911).
• Incidence 1 in 3,600 live births
• It is the commonest congenital cardiac defect causing cyanosis - a bluish coloration of the skin caused by lack of oxygen in the blood.
• It is slightly more common in males than females