A Bath woman has completed a 315-mile bike ride in memory of her sister who died after her rare condition was misdiagnosed.
Adrian Belgin, Tracey Belgin-Lee, Jackie Duffy, Tony Duffy and Neale Goddard
Jackie Duffy from Weston Village has raised more than £5,800 for Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland.
Jackie, her husband Tony and family friend Tracey Belgin-Lee did the long-distance ride in aid of the charity as a tribute to her sister Sharon Goddard from Keynsham.
They arrived in Keynsham on Friday 4th April after their eight-day journey.
Sharon had Loeys-Dietz Syndrome, a rare genetic connective tissue disorder that primarily affects the heart and aorta.
On 18th December 2022, she had been returning from a Caribbean holiday when she began experiencing chest pain. She was taken to the hospital by ambulance but was left waiting in a corridor for hours as her condition deteriorated.
Despite hospital staff being informed of Sharon’s medical condition, it was not taken seriously.
An inquest ruled that her death was preventable, and her care had been neglectful, with delays, failures, lack of awareness, and poor decision-making.
Sharon, who was 53, left behind husband Neale and daughters Hannah, Izzy, and Alice.
After returning from their ride, for which back-up support was provided by Neale and Tracey’s husband, Adrian, Jackie said it had been a challenge, but the beautiful route had made it all worth it.
She said: “It seems like years ago we left Land’s End and finally arrived in Keynsham, for tea and cake. The route was very, very hilly, the wind was strong, the terrain wasn’t always that great, but the sun shone for us.
“We had a few mechanical issues, which were soon sorted, thanks to the local bike mechanics. and our support team.
“People we have met along the way have been amazing, so we have been spreading the word ‘Think Aorta’. Thank you to everyone.”
Donations can be made on Jackie’s JustGiving page.
Aortic Dissection claims the lives of 2,000 people in the UK each year, often due to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment.
Aortic Dissection Awareness is the national patient charity and their voice for Aortic Dissection (AD) in the UK & Ireland.
It raises awareness of AD, informs and supports AD patients and families, and works with healthcare providers to improve diagnosis, treatment and reduce healthcare inequalities, and partner researchers.
You can read more about Sharon’s story on the charity’s website here.
