It's full speed ahead with a pacemaker

Jason Hersey is planning a charity bike ride, months after discovering his heart was stopping for almost half a minute at a time.

The 43-year-old, from Braunstone, Leicester, suffered fainting episodes for 18 months but had no idea what was causing them.

He was so concerned he decided to stop driving.

Jason said: "The first time I fainted, I was fishing with a friend and just keeled over.

"After that, I wore a life jacket in case I fell in the water."

Doctors struggled to diagnose what was wrong and initially could not work out if it was a heart or a neurological problem.

In the middle of last year, specialists suggested he had a heart monitor implanted to record what happened whenever he had an attack.

In January, when he fainted, they discovered his heart was stopping for 20 seconds a time.

Jason said: "I hadn't fainted for six months but I did the day I was due for a check up at Glenfield Hospital.

"When I got to the hospital I was told that my heart had stopped for 20 seconds, which is why I had fainted.

"I was shocked. I never realised that when I was fainting my heart was actually stopping.

"What was just as shocking was that I was told I couldn't go home.

"I had to stay in hospital until I had had a pacemaker fitted."

Life has since turned around for Jason, a treasury manager who works in Warwickshire.

He said: "I am not the fittest person and I know I am overweight but I have joined Leicester Forest Cycling Club, which has proved to be my inspiration.

"I now cycle more than 50 miles some weekends and once a week I go out with the club which has supported me all the way.

"This heart problem has been a huge wake-up call.

"My fitness levels have never been so high and I have never felt so good."

He is now training for a Warwickshire bike ride organised by the British Heart Foundation.

Jason said: "I want to make sure people are not afraid of having a pacemaker fitted, even if they are young.

"I want to show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is possible to get on with life as normal afterwards.

"My life was turned upside down but is now so much better.

"I am hoping to raise about £750 for the British Heart Foundation, which is a cause now very close to me."

Jemma Currant, the ride organiser, said: "Heart conditions affect people of all ages.

"Jason's story shows how having a pacemaker doesn't have to prevent you from doing exercise."

To sponsor Jason, go to his webpage:

www.justgiving.com/ jason-hersey