Triathlete and medicine student Shannon Kelly knows all too well the pivotal importance of regular check-ups and the necessity to eradicate the minimising of symptoms, however small.
Before attending an endurance triathlon in France back in April 2019, an unassuming Kelly was required to undertake ECG and echo heart examinations which discovered a rare clot in her right atrium that could have been catastrophic had it not been located and treated as it was.
“I didn’t have many symptoms looking back. I maybe felt a bit more fatigued and maybe my training was not bringing me to the places it should have been in terms of fitness but that’s very hard to read when you’re juggling college life or studies and you think you’re just tired”.
“I didn’t read the red flags that were there and luckily the screening then just highlighted what was wrong. I was put on blood thinners and luckily it was all sorted” she says.
The 25 year old has described the ordeal as a “big part of [her] story” and since then is determined to raise awareness about heart conditions such as hers’ and the invaluable significance of heart screening.
Working with organisations such as Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) and with the backing of her sponsors Estrella Bikes, campaign #HEARTHEALTH was born in an effort to spark conversation about cardiac health and raise money for the eminent cause.
To be in with the chance to win a bespoke carbon fiber bike with aero handlebars identical to that of Kelly’s and worth 2,500, participants may donate any amount they wish, follow @CRYIre and @estrellabikes and use the hashtag #HEARTHEALTH.
Donation Link Here.
Elite Triathlete Shannon Kelly is fundraising for CRY with the help of @estrella_bikes. For a chance to win a top of the range @estrellabikes
To Enter:
1. Donate at https://t.co/O7oHVDhvtD
2. Follow Estrella Bikes
3. Comment #Hearthealth below & tag 3 friends.#Competition
— CRY Ireland (@CRYIre) December 22, 2020
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