When he sits in the saddle and prepares to push off on an off-road cycling challenge next weekend, Karl Digby will have plenty of motivation to reach the finish line – he is doing the challenge in memory of his teenage son, Keaton.
Keaton passed away aged 16 in 2021 from complications of Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a condition where the heart fails to pump enough blood around the body at the right pressure.
It's a condition shared by Karl, from Newport Pagnell, and his own father.
“I was diagnosed 10 years ago when I collapsed while playing football. I'd had shortness of breath and some funny turns,” he told MKFM, “...but it was at least six months before he passed away that Keaton was diagnosed with it.. He became ill during Covid, which was the initial thought – that he had Covid.”
Now, Karl – who also has a 23-year-old daughter and a two-year-old son – is ready to tackle the London to Brighton Off-Road Bike Ride, which will swell the coffers for the British Heart Foundation.
He has enlisted the help of two pals to join him on the gruelling fundraiser: “I had to do it with someone else,” he said, “My wife would worry too much if I did it alone. My cardiologist was also shocked that I was taking on the challenge, but agreed they should be led by me.
“I've been fine during training, and I feel well.”
Karl has set a target of £1000, and has already raised £650.
“Those that know me, will know I love a challenge, and know that I love to put my broken heart to the test,” he wrote online.
Karl wants to prevent others having to face the difficulties he has had to navigate: “I am doing what I can to try to stop anyone else having to go through what our family did, and to help others in the future,” hel added, “I know that Keaton would be proud of me doing this..”
If you would like to contribute, please visit his JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/karl-digby-6
