Local Hero Travels to U.S. to Run for a Lifetime
Running a marathon is an heroic effort. Running a marathon after being diagnosed with a serious, chronic illness takes that heroism to the next level.
On Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, Dunedin nurse Carol Foote will join 24 other “Global Heroes” – long-distance runners with chronic illnesses who benefit from medical technology – to compete in the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, Minnesota.
The first ever Hero from Australia/New Zealand, Carol was selected from 150 applicants who submitted inspiring personal stories of courage and perseverance after being diagnosed with a chronic illness.
No stranger to such gruelling events – this marathon will be her 17th – Carol will run the race in memory of her two sisters, including her identical twin. Both women collapsed and died during exercise in their early twenties.
“No-one wants to lose two sisters. But it made me embrace life with both hands”, Carol says.
“I made a decision then to keep as fit as possible and make the most of my life,” she says.
Nearly 30 years later, Carol was diagnosed with the same condition as her sisters. An exercise test in 2007 indicated that Carol experienced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (dangerously rapid heartbeat) at reasonably low levels of stress, even though she was completely asymptomatic, and she received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD).
ICDs monitor the heart to treat tachycardia and prevent sudden cardiac death. If a dangerously fast heart rate is detected, an electrical signal is sent to correct it. If the faster heart rate continues, the ICD is designed to deliver a life-saving shock and restore the heart to a more normal rate.
Carol logs more than 60 kilometres a week and says she was motivated to apply to be a Global Hero to raise awareness.
“The publicity may help medical staff and the public be aware that there are an increasing number of genetic causes for sudden death.”
About Medtronic Global Heroes
Now in its fourth year, the Medtronic Global Heroes program celebrates the accomplishments of runners who enjoy the benefits of medical devices to treat conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, spinal disorders, chronic pain, or neurological disorders, and whose continued passion for running serves as an inspiration to others.
This year’s runners represent nine countries, including New Zealand, the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Italy, Germany, Russia and Spain.
All runners with medical devices are welcome to apply; complete information is available at www.medtronic.com/globalheroes