Fiona’s fundraising run in memory of brother Brendan who died of heart attack at 35

Fiona Mulholland, 50, from Lurgan, has always been fairly fit but, after the premature death of her younger brother Brendan, exercise became even more of a priority.

She joined a local running club and made the Chest Heart and Stoke Red Dress Run (this year taking place virtually on Sunday, February 21) an annual date in her calendar.

Fiona runs in memory of her brother and for her family who suffer from heart conditions.

She said: “My brother passed away in 2013 and we have a family history of heart problems; my dad has COPD and he had a stroke last year in the middle of all this pandemic. So, after my brother died, my parents signed up to contribute every month to Chest Heart and Stroke – we just wanted to give something back after he died.”

During the pandemic and ongoing lockdown, Fiona has found that exercise has helped her enormously mentally as well as physically: “I do think exercise is so good for mental health as well – so good. I’m a physio and out in the community. You need exercise to get a bit of head space. It’s the only time you get, when there’s no one calling for you or asking something, it’s a bit of thinking time which is very important.”

With chest, heart and stroke disease responsible for 16 deaths per day in Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke is passionate about keeping local hearts healthy.

The charity’s ‘Step by Step’ campaign is designed to encourage people to consider their cardiovascular health and puts forward easy steps everyone can take towards a healthier heart.

Sign up or donate at www.nichs.org.uk/reddressrun.

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