Key Highlights :
1. Grace Bakone is taking part in the Kew Garden 10K in support of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
2. The 29-year-old said she was motivated to take part in the event after the death of her mother, Marie-Mozu, who died from heart failure in June last year at the age of 65.
3. The grandmother-of-13 had lived with the illness for more ten years. It had been caused by a heart muscle disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).
4. The condition makes the muscle walls become enlarged and weaker, preventing the heart from pumping blood to the body properly.
5. Grace, who works as a physiotherapist at Addenbrooke's Hospital, said: "Mum had a fairly good quality of life and was pretty independent, but her heart function had become quite poor, and she was on the waiting list for an implantable defibrillator. "She had also been really struggled with was her breathing due to the build-up of fluid in her lungs. The week she died Mum had been admitted to hospital where they’d made some adjustments to her medication to help with the symptoms. "She was discharged, and things seemed to be better. Then on the Saturday my sister and her husband had gone to mum’s to take her to another hospital appointment. "When they got there, they found the windows open, and the house just looked unusual. There was no answer, so my brother-in-law climbed in through the window and found that mum had passed away. "My sister had the unfortunate job of letting us all know. When she called, I can only describe it as like an out-of-body experience. I didn’t feel like I could control my body and the emotions were very intense."
6. Grace signed up for the run as a way to remember her mother, which is due to take place next month. She is giving herself a good amount of time to train after admitting she doesn't normally run. She added: "At the moment, I’m running around 5k which takes me about 30 minutes. I’d love to complete the 10k in under an hour. That would be a real achievement for me as I never been a runner. "My other goal is to raise money for the BHF. If I can help fund more research, then it can lead to new discoveries that could improve the treatment and care for people with conditions like my mum."
Grace, 29, described hearing the news of her mother's death as "an out of body experience." Grace's mother had been battling cancer for several years, and Grace had been preparing herself for her death. When the news came, Grace found herself in a state of shock. "I just couldn't believe it," she said. "I was in an out of body experience. I couldn't see or feel anything. It was like I was floating." Grace's husband was there to support her, and he helped her to deal with the shock. "He was amazing," she said. "He was there for me when I needed him." Grace is now rebuilding her life after her mother's death. She is focusing on her work and her family. Grace's husband is also helping to support her. "He's been a great support," she said. "He's been there for me every step of the way." Grace is grateful for her husband's support. "He's been amazing," she said. "I couldn't ask for more from him." Grace is rebuilding her life after her mother's death, and she is grateful for her husband's support.
