The family of a young dad, who died of heart disease just a year after his son was born, is taking on a charity challenge in his memory.
Adam McKnight, from Carfin, and his fiancée Dannika were due to get married and had recently celebrated their baby son Blane’s first birthday, when Adam died suddenly of ischemic heart disease.
The 28-year-old was taken by ambulance to University Hospital Wishaw in February 2016 after suffering pains in his chest.
While in hospital he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest.
Now as Adam’s family and friends mark the fifth anniversary of his death, they’ve signed up to take part in this year’s virtual Kiltwalk, in support of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Dannika’s mum Linda Dykes, 49, who lives in Carfin, and her cousin Siobhan Reardon, 30, are taking on the challenge after completing a similar effort last year for BHF.
“Adam was, and still is the best dad and fiancé that anyone could have asked for,” Linda said. “It was all so sudden. He went to hospital with pains in his chest, went into cardiac arrest and never woke up.
“My daughter phoned and said Adam had chest pains and I told them to phone out of hours. I went up to sit with Blane, Adam walked down the stairs and into the ambulance and that was it – I never saw him alive again.
“He was a young, fit, healthy man.
“I had never heard of ischemic heart disease until Adam passed. He didn’t know he had it. Blane had just turned one in the January and that happened to Adam in February. We keep Adam’s memory alive with Blane.
“When I pick him up from school we go down to Adam’s grave and Blane has his wee bucket to clean the headstone.
“Adam was clever but clumsy and Blane is the same. He is so much like his dad it’s scary.”
Heart and circulatory diseases cause around 50 deaths each day in Scotland and across the country an estimated 700,000 people are living with the daily burden of these conditions.
The family’s efforts come at a critical time for the BHF and the charity is hoping to encourage its biggest ever team of fundraisers to sign up for the virtual Kiltwalk which takes place this April.
Linda and Siobhan are determined to complete the gruelling walk. They are currently planning their route which will most likely include Carluke.
“That’s where Adam was from. Everybody knew him,” Linda said. “I’ve been training and did nine miles yesterday. I completed the 26 miles last year and hardly trained, although I did lose my two big toenails”.
BHF says the last 12 months have been the hardest in its 60-year history, and research funding had to be cut in half
It’s not the first time the family have completed a challenge to raise money for BHF, and it won’t be the last.
Younger daughter Chelsea, 21, is walking 34 miles on Adam’s birthday in July to raise money, and has launched a JustGiving page for donations.
Linda continued: “Dannika did the Tough Mudder challenge the year after Adam passed away. The British Heart Foundation don’t get the credit or the money they deserve, they depend on people giving donations.
“We’re determined to do everything we can in Adam’s name to help others.”
Dannika, 27, was organising a fun day at the local bowling club but that’s been put on hold until the venue can reopen.
James Jopling, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “We need the public’s support now more than ever.”
Visit Virtual.thekiltwalk.co.uk/fundraising/scotlandsvirtualkiltwalk2021-LindaDykes for more on this story.
If you would like to sign up to BHF Scotland’s Kiltwalk team, you can find more details at www.thekiltwalk.co.uk/events
.png?w=600)
