When a member of the Milton Keynes Lightning support team heard of a charity fun run to get fit AND raise money for the British Heart Foundation, it took little more than a heartbeat for him to sign up.  But the fact that Mark Canham is alive and in good enough health to take part in the BHF’s Santa Jog, is due in large part to the work of the organisation he’ll be running to raise money for.

Affectionately known by many in the Lightning set-up as ‘Bertie’, Mark – doorman and match DJ for the Lightning – suffered a heart attack in March this year whilst playing badminton, and underwent emergency surgery to clear a blocked artery. Thanks to the support and guidance he has received from doctors and nurses, a cardio health rehabilitation team and the British Heart Foundation, Bertie’s health is now back to his pre-illness level – and he says the BHF Santa Jog at Willen Lake next month is his opportunity to give something back to those who helped his recovery.

“Even though I’ve built my fitness back up, there are other battles still going on in my head while I’m doing my regimes”, said Mark. “I want to give back something to a wonderful organisation that do fantastic work in the community - and a thank you from me for those wonderful people at the hospitals, especially the cardiac teams.

“I currently take part in the weekly 3km Milton Keynes park runs at Willen Lake which are exhausting, but I’ll be stepping up to 8k for the Santa Jog. I’ve never run that far before, so it will be a real challenge physically and mentally, but I’m determined to do it for the BHF.

“I know Lightning’s supporters have already given generously to the fund-raising efforts in November – but if anyone could give just that little bit more and sponsor me to run this 8km then I’d be really grateful. The British Heart Foundation helped me, but you never know who they’ll be helping next – you just don’t know what’s around the corner. Back in March I’d never have believed I’d be in training to run 8km! So it would be great to raise a good sum of money for them to help them continue their work.”

Sponsorship donations can be given online at Mark Canham’s ‘Just Giving’ web page: http://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Canham The British Heart Foundation’s Santa Jog takes place at Willen Lake, Milton Keynes, on Sunday 4 December from 11.00am, for more details see http://www.bhf.org.uk/get-involved/events/view-event.aspx?ps=1001270