Heart transplant recipient raises money for hospital that saved her life

Heart transplant recipient Jan Lockett, from Leominster, hosted a golf weekend to raise money for the transplant unit that gave her a second chance at life.

Jan underwent life-saving treatment at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham in November 2011 after being told that she only had weeks to live if she didn’t receive a new heart.

Since her operation, Jan has become a vocal campaigner for transplant awareness and organises events to raise awareness and talk about her experience. Now, she has raised an incredible amount of money for the hospital charity by hosting her Heart Transplant Challenge Cup Gold Day at Leominster Golf Club.

The two-day event took place in May and saw her family and friends take part in a weekend of competitive golf to raise money for the Heart and Lung Transplant Unit here at the hospital.

Speaking of her experience at the hospital, Jan said: “My experience of hospitals goes all the way back to when I was 14 years old and I was diagnosed with bone cancer. The doctors initially thought they would have to amputate my leg, but after being transferred to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, I was given radiotherapy treatment instead.

“21 years later, I suffered two heart attacks whilst I was in my mid-thirties. These came as a great shock to me, as I lived a very healthy lifestyle. I swam regularly and was generally a very healthy person.”

By 2008, Jan’s health had started to seriously deteriorate. Jan said: “I was told then that I had six months to live. I was so unwell that I became housebound, I was unable to anything at all.”

Despite the setback, a suitable heart was found for Jan, and she made her way to QEHB for the operation. She said: “I couldn’t wait; I was so excited that they had found a heart for me. It felt like the greatest gift anyone could receive.”

Over seven years after her operation, Jan decided that now was the time to raise some money for the hospital that saved her life and gave her a second chance. The golf day she hosted consisted of multiple teams in the race to win some incredible raffle prizes, including a television.

Talking about the event, Jan said: “The golf was incredible. So many people joined in and people were so happy to fundraise for the hospital that saved my life. I loved organising it and it was so lovely to see everyone get involved.”

Jan raised an incredible £2,550.37 for the Heart and Lung Transplant Department which will go towards more added extras that help patients and staff in the department, including incredible pieces of equipment just like the Heart in a Box machine.

To find out more about transplants at the hospital, please click here.