When Catherine Moore got married on 17th September 2022 never in her wildest dreams did she think just seventeen days later her father, Philip, would sadly suddenly pass away after having a heart attack. In tribute to Philip, Catherine is preparing to take on local health charity Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke’s (NICHS) Red Dress Fun Run this weekend.
This will be Catherine’s first time participating in the five-kilometre run or walk, which is supported by MACE and Musgrave MarketPlace, and which raises much needed funds for NICHS’s care and prevention services and research projects, as well as awareness of heart conditions.
Catherine, from Bangor, says; “Dad was from Northern Ireland but lived in England with my step mum. He had previously been a PE teacher but had moved into business consultancy.”
“Dad loved life. He loved his food and rugby and going to the pub for a pint to watch the rugby. When he was a teacher, he would have been quite fit but after he left that role and got older, he wasn’t doing as much training. I was worried that if he didn’t start taking better care of himself something would happen- sadly, it did.”
Recalling the day Philip passed away, Catherine says; “My husband John and I had been out for dinner and had just arrived home when my phone rang. It was my dad's number, but we would have messaged more than rang each other so I knew something was wrong. When I answered it was my step mum and she just said, ‘I’m really sorry’.”
“Dad had done an induction at a new gym that afternoon as he was trying to get back into shape. He came home from the gym, and he was fine, then all of a sudden, he said to my step mum, ‘I don't feel so great’ and he dropped to the floor. He had a massive heart attack.”
“We think what possibly happened is that the movement of the exercise shifted plaque that had been around dad’s heart, causing a blockage and the heart attack. My step mum performed CPR and did everything she could but within minutes dad was gone. He was gone before the paramedics even arrived, it all happened so suddenly. He was only 62.”
Catherine continues; “After the post-mortem we found out there was nothing that could have been done to save dad. He had undiagnosed coronary heart disease but there were absolutely no warning signs or symptoms he had it and that he was at risk of having a heart attack. Dad wasn’t experiencing things like chest pains or shortness of breath. Even when he did his gym induction and had a monitor on, there was nothing to indicate there was a problem with his heart.”
“Just seventeen days earlier dad was having the time of his life at our wedding. You would never have thought three weeks later we would be burying him. It was such a shock.”
Despite her loss, Catherine is thinking of others and how she can help raise heart health awareness. “Raising awareness of heart health is so important to me and that’s why I am sharing dad’s story. My uncle had a heart attack three years prior to what happened to dad, and he survived. I wish dad had gone to get his heart checked out then. I feel there is a stigma around men, particularly those of a similar age to dad, putting their health and wellbeing first, but it is so important they do.”
“What happened to dad shows the signs of a potential issue aren’t always very obvious such as severe chest pains. I want to raise awareness so other families don’t go through the same thing. If sharing my story makes someone else chat to their dad about the importance of heart health and encourage them to get checked out, and as a result their dad lives long enough to see their grandchildren, I would be happy. I only wish it could be the same for my dad.”
Talking about her participation in this weekend’s Red Dress Fun Run Catherine says; “I want to raise awareness of heart conditions as well as funds to help Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke with their prevention and research work. They do so much great work trying to make people aware of heart health, risk factors and symptoms that something might not be quite right. February is actually Heart Month so it’s the perfect time to try and raise awareness.”
“This is my first time doing Red Dress Fun Run. I’m really looking forward to it and will be thinking of dad with every step I take.”
Christine Duncan, Events and Marketing Manager at Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke is urging the public to sign up to the event saying; “We are so grateful to Catherine for sharing her story, raising awareness of heart conditions and for supporting the Red Dress Fun Run in memory of Philip. Sadly, so many people are affected by heart illness in our local communities. Coronary heart disease is the biggest single cause of premature deaths in people younger than 75 across Northern Ireland and heart disease kills nearly twice as many women here as cervix, uterus, ovary and breast cancer combined.”
“So please come run, walk, dance, skip or wheel 5K with us this Sunday (25th February) at Stormont Estate. Online registrations will close towards the end of this week, but you can also come along and register on the day. Together we can help rebuild thousands of lives and make a lasting change towards heart health in Northern Ireland. Everyone is welcome to come along and join in the fun - even the family pooch!”
The charity will once again partner with MACE and Musgrave MarketPlace for the 2024 event. Diane Anthony from Musgrave says; “MACE and Musgrave MarketPlace are both backing NICHS’s call for people to dress up in red and come together at this year’s event to raise awareness and funds to fight heart illness. Whether you’re taking part in memory of someone you have lost to heart illness, celebrating someone who is living with a heart condition, or to prevent heart disease happening to someone in the future – sign up and join us to support this worthy cause! It’s set to be a fantastic day.”
If you have been inspired to step up to the challenge, you can sign up to the Red Dress Fun Run at www.nichs.org.uk/RedDressFunRun
