Friends take on challenge in memory of 19 year old Birmingham Uni heart victim

A Birmingham University student who died in April will be commemorated by her friends as they take on a challenge for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in memory her memory.

Nine friends will be taking part in the BHF’s Hyde Park Jog in memory of Stevie Jivani, who died on 21 April following an aortic dissection, which is the rupture of the body’s largest artery

Taking part are Sophie Skilton, Alice Hollamby, Jenny Carter, Rebecca Cornish, Rebecca Benham, Rachel Ward-Miller, Natasha Potts, Amie Vincent and Josephine Williams, just some of Stevie’s many friends. Together they will take on 10km of one of London’s biggest parks to fundraise in her memory.

Stevie’s friend Sophie said: “Birmingham University awarded Stevie a posthumous degree in July for all her hard work over the past two years – it was amazing news to all of us and has given me the motivation I needed to continue my university studies.

“My friends and I are taking part in the race because we want to raise money to help the BHF’s research and to raise awareness that things like this can happen to young people. I know Stevie will be laughing along with us as we attempt this run red-faced and sweaty!

“I am so happy that I got to share nine years with Stevie and that we made the most out of life as these memories will always be there to look back on and help me through!”

Taking place on Sunday 23 September this sponsored event is open to everyone. Participants can walk, jog or run the 5km route once – or twice to complete 10km – in one of London’s most iconic, royal open spaces. Now in its sixth year, the Hyde Park Jog is a great way to round off the summer and to raise vital funds for the nation’s heart charity.

BHF Event Organiser, Kate Glover, said: “The Hyde Park Jog is the final event in our 2012 London Jogs Series, which has been a great success and we’re hoping will raise over £35,000. We are delighted to be hosting another London Jog at this much loved park where participants can enjoy the stunning setting with the Serpentine as the backdrop. It’s not a race, but there is chip timing, so fun runners can set themselves a benchmark and more serious runners can record that all important personal best.

“Sadly, every seven minutes someone dies from a heart attack and nearly all of us knows someone who has been affected by heart disease. A BHF event is the perfect way to help the nation’s heart charity save lives and improve your own heart health – together we can beat heart disease.”

This is a sponsored event and the BHF relies upon the money raised to help fund its pioneering research to continue to save lives. You can register in advance, or on-the-day entry is £20 for adults and £10 for children. The entry fee covers the cost of running the event; it is participants’ sponsorship money that will help beat heart disease for good.

For more information visit bhf.org.uk/hydeparkjog or contact the events team on 0808 100 2109 or at [email protected]