Yesterday we announced that our Director, Gareth Potsig, will be taking part in the Virgin London Marathon 2021 having been honoured to secure a place representing Thrombosis UK.

Today Gareth bravely shares why he is running for Thrombosis UK and how his family have been personally affected by the medical condition…

“My father-in-law Mick was fit as a fiddle, he walked everywhere, never got sick and hadn’t been to see a doctor in years. So, when he’d complained at a family meal of the recent cold weather being trapped on his chest, I naively put it down to a chest infection. Though just 6 hours later, in the early hours of 2nd March 2018, Mick died without warning.

“What I had presumed was nothing more than a chest infection turned out to be a huge warning sign that was crucially missed. Mick had succumbed to a pulmonary embolism. This is where a blood clot, known as deep vein thrombosis or DVT, breaks off and travels to the lungs.

“The warning pain in Mick’s chest progressed and within just a few hours of the evening meal, the clot had moved from the lung to the heart causing a blockage that resulted in a heart attack. By the time he reached the hospital there was nothing that could be done to save him.

“I am extremely honoured to have been allocated a place in the Virgin London Marathon by Thrombosis UK and I want to raise as much support and awareness as possible so I can do the Thrombosis charity, my family and friends, and most importantly Mick proud.”

So, when should I ask could this be a clot? If you develop throbbing or cramping in one leg, swelling, redness or darkened skin around the painful area, light headedness, chest pain or breathlessness then please speak to your doctor and don’t let these warning signs go unnoticed.

If you would like to support Gareth in running the Virgin London Marathon 2021 then please visit the below link to make a donation:

https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/fundraiser-display/showROSomeoneSpecialPage?pageUrl=MichaelMcGuigan