For four weeks over September, charity supporters pledged their allegiance to Team Heart or Team Lungs and then laced up their shoes to cover miles to help their team and our hospitals go further.  

Both teams were pitted against each other in a virtual race around the coastline of the UK. Team Heart took an early lead, but Lungs fought back and maintained a healthy lead for over a week. Team members counted every step and before long the route was extended from 3,000 miles to over 17,000 miles, such was their dedication and determination. 

Sarah, Amy and Lindsay, who were patients at Harefield at the time, met up and used their exercise time to count steps for Team Lungs. They were all thankful for the care they receive, Sarah said:

I would like to express that the fantastic medical attention, the endless care and the feeling of a family environment all helped save my life quite a few times in Harefield Hospital. I will be forever grateful for my donor’s double lungs. I am taking this opportunity to say a thank you to all the Harefield staff.  

Many team members took on epic challenges as part of the mission. They took us to the top of Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike. Max Glover, one of our fundraising heroes, went that bit further as he carried a full size piano up Garth Mountain in South Wales.  

In the last week of the challenge team Heart powered ahead and crossed the virtual finish line at Royal Brompton Hospital first. Team Leader, Andrew Cavanagh congratulated his team.  

Well done Team Hearts! We went from being 1,000 miles behind a few weeks ago to winning the race. I knew that we could do it. Of course, it’s the taking part that counts, so we shall be magnanimous in victory, gracious in defeat and stand to applaud Team Lungs who put in an incredible effort. A big thank you to all 242 members of Team Hearts for taking part. It’s been an honour to be on a team with you all.

The event was an incredible success raising over £29,278. 

The prize for most money raised goes to Charlotte Musgrove, who in October 2019 received a double lung transplant at Harefield Hospital. Her “Charlie’s Angels” raised a brilliant £3,400.  

The prize for the most miles covered goes to Niamh Delaney and her team of transplant nurses, the Loveable Lungs. They clocked up a brilliant 1,487 miles to help Team Lungs along the route. 

Congratulations to the prize winners and a huge thank you to everybody who took part and donated. Everything raised will help to transform the lives of thousands of heart patients in the years ahead.