A midwife at the James Paget is running 60 miles during July to raise money for Thrombosis UK in memory of her dad who died, aged just 58, from a pulmonary embolism.
Delivery suite midwife Charlene Hilsden has already raised £500 for the charity and is working to increase awareness of the signs and symptoms of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
Charlene said; "I'm running in memory of my dad who sadly suddenly passed away on Christmas Eve in 2018. He was working offshore when he became suddenly very unwell. The medical teams on the rig tried all they could but sadly they could not save my dad.
"Being in a medical profession, I knew DVTs can be life threatening but I did not appreciate how much work goes on by Thrombosis UK to make people aware of the signs and symptoms until now. I believe if my dad knew of these symptoms, and he understood how life threatening it can be, he would have sought medical care.
"The grief since losing him is so tough but through my grief I found a love for fitness and running. Unfortunately I lost my enthusiasm for fitness after a back injury and suffering from Covid-19 in April.
"Recently I found Thrombosis UK and read about the fitness challenge they encourage - The Big Charity Run - where fundraisers select a distance to run, walk or cycle. I wanted to raise awareness and support this charity in memory of my beloved dad, while hoping this would give me the boost I need to get my love of fitness back.
"I will be running either outside or at home on my treadmill, as I'm a mum of five and a midwife, and will fit the miles in daily through the month."
If you would like to contribute please visit Charlene's Just Giving page; https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/charlene-hilsden
Charlene is also organising a raffle to raise further funds and would to thank local companies who have already donated to support this.
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a leg or arm. The signs and symptoms of a DVT include:
- Swelling, usually in one leg (or arm)
- Leg pain or tenderness
- Reddish / blue skin discoloration
- Leg (or arm) warm to touch
These symptoms of a blood clot may feel similar to a pulled muscle, although they may also be accompanied by other symptoms that include:
- Swelling in the leg (or arm)
- Slight discoloration
- Possibly feel warm
A Pulmonary Embolism occurs when clots break off from a DVT and travel to the lung. The signs and symptoms of a PE include:
- Sudden shortness of breath
- Chest pain-sharp, stabbing; that may get worse with deep breaths
- A rapid heart rate
- Unexplained cough, sometimes with blood-streaked mucus