Former Olympic gymnast Ellie Downey is donning Lycra again for her iconic London to Brighton bike ride in memory of her brother who died from sudden cardiac arrest. BHF His ambassador and first-time cyclist, Ellie is determined to raise awareness of heart disease by supporting the US.

Connection with Ellie

Josh Downie tragically and suddenly passed away in May 2021 after suffering a cardiac arrest on the cricket pitch. He passed away at the age of 24. Josh was later found to have a genetic heart disease called arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, which weakens his heart muscle.

we provide funding Approximately £100 million of research is carried out every year on all heart and circulatory diseases Like Josh. In 2022, we donated his £30m to CureHeart, a global team of scientists aiming to discover the first-ever cure for inherited cardiomyopathy.

Ellie Downey said: “This is a very personal challenge for me. Losing my brother suddenly and unexpectedly three years ago was incredibly sad for the whole family. His condition was genetic, so Our whole family has been tested and it may cause us problems in the future.

“His life has only just begun, and seeing how quickly a loved one can be taken away is a stark reminder of how precious our time in this world is.” I want to do my part by raising money for the BHF to help the millions of other people and families who are suffering.

“I’m not a cyclist, so training for a big event like this will be a real challenge. This is unlike anything I’ve done before. The hardest part of my training is , it comes around the anniversary of Josh’s death in May, so I’m going to put all my emotions into it. Josh is the reason I’m doing the London to Brighton bike ride, so I’m going to give it my all.”

BHF research on heart disease

Every week in the UK, at least 12 young people under the age of 35 die from undiagnosed heart disease. The London to Brighton bike ride is our flagship event. The 54-mile cycling challenge, which has been running for 47 years, has helped him raise more than £50 million for life-saving research into treatments for heart and circulatory diseases.

During this very painful year, Ellie wants to contribute to pioneering advances in medicine by raising money to prevent others from experiencing the heartache her family has experienced.

The event, sponsored by PureGym, will see Ellie and around 10,000 other cyclists take on the challenge of cycling 54 miles. Starting at Clapham Common, the route winds through the Surrey and Sussex countryside, finishing along the iconic Brighton coastline to the bustling event village.

Thanks from BHF

Anna McCauley, Head of Events here at BHF, said: Losing a family member to heart or circulatory disease is truly heartbreaking, and in Josh’s case it was devastating. We will all be behind Ellie on the day, cheering and cheering her on as she navigates her iconic route.

“Our famous cycling is suitable for all abilities, whether you are a seasoned cyclist looking for a time challenge or someone like Ellie who is new to cycling and looking to do something meaningful and fulfilling. No matter what, our events are suitable for everyone. We also have training plans on our website to help you put your foot down.

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