The family of a young Motherwell dad who died suddenly from heart disease are taking on a charity challenge in his memory.
Adam McKnight and his fiancée Dannika were due to get married and had been celebrating the birth of their baby boy Blane, when Adam passed away in 2016.
The 28-year-old had gone to hospital with chest pains and later 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).
“Adam was and still is the best dad and fiancé that anyone could have asked for. His memory carries on in his son Blane,” explained Linda Dykes, Dannika’s mum.
“He died of ischemic heart disease but had no idea he had it – it was all so sudden. He went to hospital with pains in his chest, went into cardiac arrest and never woke up.”
Adam’s family has already raised more than £1500 for the BHF – the largest independent funder of research into heart and circulatory diseases in the UK.
During the first lockdown last year, Linda and her niece Siobhan set themselves the challenge of walking 26 miles in 12 hours – taking in a local route from Carfin to Carluke and back, and then from Carfin to Motherwell and back. Now they are preparing for this year’s virtual Kiltwalk in April.
Linda added: “We are supporting the BHF so that other families are spared the heartache of losing a loved one in such tragic circumstances.
“This shouldn’t have happened to such a young, fit man and we’re determined to do everything we can in Adam’s name to help others.”
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 this spring.
The last 12 months have been the hardest in the BHF’s 60-year history.
The Covid-19 crisis has had a devastating impact on its income and, as a result, research funding had to be cut in half this year, putting future life-saving discoveries at risk.
James Jopling, head of BHF Scotland, said: “Our research in Scotland and across the UK to help save and improve lives is only made possible thanks to wonderful supporters like Linda and her family, and we need the public’s support now more than ever.
“The closure of our shops during lockdown and the cancellation and postponement of traditional fundraising events means we are facing our biggest ever challenge.
“Cutting research funding will impact the development of new ways of preventing, diagnosing and treating heart and circulatory diseases and we cannot allow the progress we have made over the last six decades to slow. That’s why we’re so inspired by Linda’s family and friends, fundraising for us in Adam’s memory and in these challenging times, to help us beat heartbreak forever.”
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.
If you would like to sign up to BHF Scotland’s Kiltwalk team, you can find more details here.
For more about the work of the BHF and how you can help support them, visit here,
