Clare is all Heart

HOSPITAL manager Clare Oatridge, 30, competed in the Great South Run on Sunday watched by her father, just a year after his life was threatened by a serious cardiac condition.

Clare, operations manager for Spire Hospital in Southampton, was inspired to take part in the event after her father, John Oatridge, 75,  made a remarkable recovery from a complex heart condition known as multi-vessel disease.

“Dad had been very ill and we were all very grateful for the care he had received,” Clare said. “I had just turned 30 and decided that the time was right to give something back.”

Clare, who admitted she is not known for her sporting prowess, trained for the run with hospital marketing executive Sarah Evans, 31, who had previously competed in the Great South West Run.

 “When I started running in June I couldn’t even do 200 metres without being exhausted,” Clare said, “but Sarah really helped me through and by July we were able to do five kilometres followed by eight miles before the big event.”

But despite finishing the race in just over two hours Clare suffered from an injury which almost prevented her from finishing: “After six kilometres I was forced to stop every mile to spray deep-heat on my knee,” she said.

Wessex HeartBeat provide local support for families affected by heart disease and is the 2010 nominated charity for Clare’s employer Spire Hospital in Southampton which treats cardiac patients.

 “Dad was so proud of me just because he’d never see me run before and he’s naturally got a lot of sympathy for heart-related matters so was really glad that we ran for the charity,” Clare said.

“We’ve raised about £350 in total and the director of the hospital has offered to double the amount. We’ll definitely be running again next year.”

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