In March of last year Martin Endacott, 50, from Bury headed to hospital due to pain which had initially been mistaken for indigestion. However tests revealed that Martin, who had no history of heart problems, had actually suffered a heart attack.
Luckily for Martin, further tests found that his heart attack would not require any further intervention other than medication, and he was discharged to recover at home. It's been a steady recovery but Martin is now back to good health and is taking on the British Heart Foundation's 52-mile Manchester to Blackpool bike ride in October.
"This is a personal challenge for me," explains Martin. "I had cycled similar distances before my heart attack and I want to get back to the same level I was at then. I was never given an explanation why I had my heart attack, so now so I want to support the British Heart Foundation and the research they do into heart and circulatory disease."
Martin and around 3,000 other riders will set off from Old Trafford Cricket Club in Manchester at midnight on 6th October, and take on the 52 mile challenge, heading for the glow of the Blackpool sea front and famous illuminations which will be left on especially for the occasion.
"I'm looking forward to the atmosphere of being part of a large group who are coming together for the same cause, and cycling through the night will be a really different experience," says Martin.
Last year, the Manchester to Blackpool Night Ride raised £110,000 which will go towards helping to better understand how to prevent, diagnose and treat heart and circulatory diseases and beat heartbreak forever. If you're interested in taking part in this year's event, visit www.bhf.org.uk/M2B for more information or to sign up.
