A MOTHER suffering from the early stages of heart failure, and who will one day need a transplant, has been made a British Heart Foundation (BHF) Inspirational Heart Hero.
Dana Edkins, 40, suffers from a rare condition which attacks the heart muscle and is at risk of a cardiac arrest, but the diagnosis has only encouraged the mother-of-four to fundraise,
She was nominated for the south east award after her fundraising efforts over the past three years raised £10,000.
Her challenges have included shaving her head, organising a school reunion and travelling for three days, without money, across England, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.
The fundraiser was presented with the award last Friday at the James Black Centre in London, by BHF chief executive Simon Gillespie.
Dana, of Worcester Road, Newport, said: "I was like a rabbit caught in the headlights! It was really touching to hear everybody else's stories.
"I did cry, my heart was going crazy due to the adrenaline, so I had to sit down as it's not good for me.
"It's not sunk in yet.
"I'd like to thank everyone for their support, I couldn't have won this on my own — it just goes to show how the Isle of Wight gets together."