AN 18-year-old heart patient from St Johns is calling on young people and their families to join the Worcester Hearty Walk and raise funds for the charity that has helped transform her life.

When Bethany Plumpton was born, doctors found she had problems with a heart valve. She had her first heart surgery at just 13 months old and is right now waiting for a second operation.

Although her condition is physically draining, Bethany will be completing the Worcester Hearty Walk on Sunday, April 30, to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation’s Mending Broken Hearts Appeal.

As well as funding research, the foundation brings together young people with heart conditions through a network called Meet@teenheart.

For Bethany it has made her feel she is not alone. “I can speak to people like myself who understand what it’s like to live with a heart condition and I’ve made some good friends," she said.

As a passionate cook, Bethany, who is studying patisserie at Birmingham College of Food, jumped at the chance of joining a Meet@teenheart event at a professional kitchen in London. She has also met other young heart patients and tried new experiences at days out across the UK.

Mum Wendy said: "They are a lovely bunch. All these kids know what it’s like to live with a heart condition and have created their own teenheart support network. The Worcester Hearty Walk will help raise funds so that the BHF can continue to run groups like this. A lot of people see heart conditions as only affecting older people but it can affect anyone."

The walks start at the county cricket ground at New Road, with registration starting at 9.15am and walkers setting off from 10am. Entrants can complete a three- or six-mile circular walk.

Last year Bethany and her mum completed the walk and joined in a supermarket collection for the BHF.

Wendy’s own mum suffered from two heart attacks and her father died from heart failure when he was only 61, so the foundation is close to her own heart.

She said: “We support the BHF because of what they have done for us. We hope other families and young people will join us on the walk and raise as much sponsorship money as they can”.

Adult entry costs £5 until Sunday, April 23, and £8 after that. To guarantee a place, register at bhf.org.uk/worcesterheartywalk.