A nineteen-year-old has raised over £3,500 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) after being inspired by her younger sister’s bravery.

Megan Preece-Bishop from Teignmouth took just over 7 hours to complete the TCS London Marathon in blistering heat.

‘I’ve never been a runner, I just want to get over the finish line’ Megan had said before the event.

Megan was motivated to take on the challenge of running 26.2 miles by the determination of her younger sister, Ella, who has a heart rhythm condition called supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Ella’s condition means her heart can periodically beat too quickly due to a fault in the electrical system that controls her heartbeat.

Ella has a device in her chest to monitor heart activity and has been in and out of Bristol Children’s Hospital for tests, scans and surgeries over the past three years, including one heart surgery that took place while she remained awake.

However, so far, the procedures to try and fix the faulty electrical signals in her heart have been unsuccessful. Doctors are now gathering more data before deciding on the next course of action.

‘Ella has been incredibly brave during this anxious time and I am so proud of her,’ Megan said.

Having seen the information and support the BHF gave her family, she decided that running the marathon would be a great opportunity to raise money for the charity.

The money Megan has raised will help the BHF continue to fund work to find new scientific breakthroughs to help families affected by heart and circulatory conditions.

To contribute to Megan’s fundraising, visit: https://justgiving.com/page/megan-preece-bishop-marathon2025