A REDDITCH woman who lost two loved ones within 12 months will be climbing Yorkshire’s highest peaks in aid of the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

Shanna Jenkins will take part in the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge in July to raise vital funds for the charity’s life saving research into heart and circulatory diseases.

The 36-year-old was inspired to take part in the event in memory of her mum and her partner’s father, who both died after having a cardiac arrest.

Shanna’s mum Carol had a heart attack which caused a sudden cardiac arrest, at her home in Worcester, in May 2019.

Carol Jenkins

Carol Jenkins

Paramedics gave the retired accountant and office manager CPR and defibrillation before she was rushed to hospital.

The mum of three and grandmother of one was taken to intensive care but was unable to regain consciousness and was put on life support.

Consultants told Shanna and her family the heart-breaking news that Carol was not responding to treatment. She was taken to St Richard’s Hospice, where she sadly died just two days later. Carol was aged 67.

“Knowing that she was going to die was just the hardest thing to have to deal with,” said Shanna, who lives with partner Steve Harris.

Shanna Jenkins with her mum Carol

Shanna Jenkins with her mum Carol

“I had a lot of love and respect for mum. She was a huge Star Wars and Dirty Dancing fan and she loved her gardening. She also loved her dogs and enjoyed going to Wales with her partner, Sam. She liked cooking and we went to see her every weekend, and she would always love us coming round. It’s devastating that she’s no longer with us.”

Carol’s death came less than a year after Steve’s father, Harry Harris, had died in similar circumstances.

Harry, from Redditch, fell unwell at a motorcycle event in June 2018. An ambulance was called and paramedics confirmed that he was having a heart attack.

On the journey to hospital, Harry had a cardiac arrest. He was taken to hospital and put on life support, but he sadly died two days later at the age of 60.

Harry Harris

Harry Harris

Shanna, who works as a warehouse operative, added: “Losing two people so close to me in such a short space of time and so suddenly was hard to take. I remember when the consultants were telling me about mum, and I was in absolute shock as it was so similar to what they had told us about Harry. It felt like the worst case of déjà vu.

“I developed anxiety pretty much straight after losing mum. I was convinced that the same was going to happen to me and I ended up needing therapy.”

Thanks to the support of online therapy and her family and friends, Shanna was able to find ways to cope. She also participated in charity events and found raising funds for good causes also helped.

Now, Shanna is gearing up for her next charity event - the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge on Saturday July 17. Joined by her sister Laura, Shanna will hike 24 miles and climb 5,000 feet, facing rocky terrain and steep climbs.

Shanna Jenkins training for Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

Shanna Jenkins training for Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

And it will all be for a good cause, as the money raised through sponsorship will help the BHF fund life saving research.

To sponsor Shanna, visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/shanna-jenkins2

Shanna added: “We saw the BHF’s pledge to beat heartbreak forever and that really struck us.

“We’ve been practising by walking up the Malvern Hills, and we’ll be hiking up the Brecon Beacons and Cadair Iris in Wales to get our training in.

“I’m really looking forward to the challenge, and to know I’m raising money for the BHF’s research will help my healing process.”