A mother from Queen’s Park plans to jump 13,000ft from a plane to help the fight against an inherited heart disease which claimed the lives of her father and nephew.
Patricia Hogan, 53, who lives in Hopefield Avenue, is taking part in a skydive in support of the Cardiomyopathy Association, a charity that provides information and support to affected families.
Mrs Hogan’s father Fintan died from dilated cardiomyopathy aged 47 more than 40 years ago and nephew Michael was diagnosed with the disease at 26 and later died after having a heart transplant.
Her two sisters Breada, aged 65, and Margaret, aged 56, are also affected by the inherited condition but are doing well on drug treatments.
Mrs Hogan, an administrator, has parachuted once before with her husband Patrick, a 57-year-old lawyer, and her children Natalie, 26 and Adam, 25, when they were on holiday in New Zealand two years ago.
She said: “I can’t change the sad events in my family’s past but if I can make one person aware of it and how it can affect families I will have achieved something.
“That is why I’m supporting the Cardiomyopathy Association and trying to raise awareness.”
The jump will take place at Headcorn Airfield near Maidstone, Kent, on March 21.
Mrs Hogan hopes to raise at least £500.
To support her visit justgiving.com/patricia-hogan.For more information about the charity visit cardiomyopathy.org or call 01494 791224.
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