The cardiac team at Royal Sussex County Hospital gathered outside the hospital to give a heartfelt send‑off to patient Phill Read, as he began an incredible four‑day charity bike ride from Brighton to Paris to raise awareness of heart valve disease.
Phill, 48, from Lancing, set off on the 250‑kilometre journey surrounded by the healthcare professionals who treated him in 2021, with staff lining up outside the cardiac centre to cheer him on as he began his ride.
Phill said: “The Royal Sussex County Hospital felt like the perfect starting point for the ride. I had my heart surgery and follow-up treatment there.”
Six years ago, Phill was a keen cyclist who led a very active lifestyle, cycling up to 100 miles a week.
The father of three’s life changed when he was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrillation (AF), a type of heart rhythm problem where your heartbeat is not steady, as well as a leaking mitral valve that required surgery.
Following a successful mitral valve repair, Phill endured a long recovery but was determined to return to the sport and even completed the London to Brighton ride alongside his surgeon, Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed, last year.
More recently, Phill’s connection to the hospital deepened when both his mother-in-law and father-in-law received cardiac treatment at the Royal Sussex County Hospital — a heart valve repair and open‑heart surgery to remove a tumour — and are now recovering well and are thankful for such ‘good care.’
Phill said: “I wanted to take on this cycling challenge to help raise awareness of heart valve disease, as well as represent the patients and my family members who are now going through a similar situation. Heart valve disease is a serious, common, but treatable disease, and I wanted to get that message out to others.”
During his own treatment, Phill was supported by the charity Heart Valve Voice. He now works for the organisation as Partnerships and Operations Director. Together with the charity’s Executive Director, Wil Woan, the pair set off on their ride to Paris raising awareness for earlier detection, timely treatment and improved access to care for people living with heart valve disease.
Mr Ishtiaq Ahmed, Consultant Cardiac Surgeon said: “Having cycled the same route myself, I know just how challenging this journey is. To now see one of my own patients take on the ride is incredibly powerful and demonstrates the excellent outcomes patients can achieve when they receive timely treatment. It’s a strong reminder of why improving access to care matters so much.”
Phill and Wil navigated through all kinds of weather and terrain, along the coast and through the French countryside before arriving in Paris at EuroPCR, one of the world’s leading cardiovascular conferences.
There, they joined patient advocates on stage, whose lives have been transformed by treatment, to ensure the patient voice is heard in discussions amongst clinicians about future innovations and care pathways.
Phill said: “From the support we received at the start line at The County, the stunning rural North French countryside, to the bustle and busyness of Paris, all made for a challenging but rewarding event. A big thanks for all the support we have received. We had that in our minds during the trip, and it made it all worthwhile.”
You can donate to Phill’s fundraising page where every donation is greatly appreciated.
