A couple from Frome pedalled their way to success in the London to Brighton Bike Ride for the British Heart Foundation on Sunday to help children born with heart conditions, like their son Felix.

Kayleigh and Gary Starkey-Savage were two of over 12,000 riders on 16th June who took on the mammoth distance from Clapham Common to the Brighton seafront, all with the same mission to fund lifesaving research.

The BHF’s flagship fundraising event, which has now been running for almost half a century, raised over £1 million for the charity’s groundbreaking research into new treatments and cures for heart and circulatory diseases. Kayleigh and Gary raised an incredible £1,000 by doing the gruelling 54-mile cycle.

The couple have a five-year-old son, Felix, who was born with a heart condition. Kayleigh said, “When I was 20 weeks pregnant, my son Felix was diagnosed with pulmonary atresia. It was an awful six weeks while the doctors decided whether anything could be done to help him or if we might have to terminate the pregnancy.

“Felix had open-heart surgery at only 10 days old, another surgery at 10 months old and he is due to have another surgery over the summer. His condition will be lifelong, but he is doing so well, and loves playing football, which isn’t something we ever thought he would be able to do.”

Felix’s surgeon is Professor Massimo Caputo, a BHF-funded researcher, who has carried out pioneering work using stem cell injections to correct heart defects in children. “His medical team are incredible, and we want to help fund more research to help children like Felix.”

Upon flying through the finish line, Gary said: “Taking part in this year’s British Heart Foundation London to Brighton Bike Ride was a truly incredible experience. The route was stunning although brutal at times! The crowds at the end were wonderful and it felt so nice to have so many people cheering me on along the seafront.

“The research that the BHF does makes such a difference to the 7.6 million people in the UK living with heart and circulatory diseases. I’m proud to know I’m doing as much as I can to support their amazing work to help fund the next big scientific breakthrough.”   

Roisin Atkinson, Senior Events Manager at the BHF, added: “It’s fantastic to see Kayleigh and Gary’s passion and determination in helping us fund lifesaving research. Without the dedication of our cyclists and the commitment of fundraisers like Kayleigh and Gary, we wouldn’t be able to fund research that has already broken new ground, revolutionised treatments and transformed the lives of millions of people in the UK.    

“The stories of why our amazing supporters take part in our London to Brighton Bike Ride never fails to impress us. It’s truly heartwarming to see Kayleigh and Gary join thousands of other riders to take on this challenge to help save and improve lives.”   

This year, the London to Brighton Bike Ride also welcomed GB Olympic gymnast Ellie Downie, who cycled in memory of her brother Josh, who died from a sudden cardiac arrest aged 24, and renowned scientist, Sir Patrick Vallance who led a team called ‘Biking for Breakthroughs’. Sir Patrick’s team raised nearly £28,000 for the charity.

The London to Brighton Bike Ride 2025 ballot is now open here.