A MOTHER who was given only a 50/50 chance of survival after being born with a hole-in-the-heart has completed a gruelling challenge to raise money for the charity that helped save her life.
Samantha Lyth, of Huntington, York, tackled the Paris Marathon last month, despite undergoing major heart surgery three times.
Samantha, 40, who works as a mortgage administrator, survived temperatures of 28 C to finish the 26 miles in five hours, 43 minutes - raising £1,500 for the British Heart Foundation.
She said: "I was born with a hole in my heart and had to have three major life-saving operations when I was aged four, eight and nine. They were life- threatening operations but, if I didn't have them, then I definitely wasn't going to survive.
"I feel very lucky to be here today, and I wanted to do this marathon to prove that I'm fit and healthy.
"I also wanted to raise money for the British Heart Foundation because, after all the treatment I've had, I wanted to put something back in."
Samantha's father, Albert Pattison, said he was proud of everything his daughter had achieved.
He said: "Within three years of her third operation, she competed in the Kiplingcotes Derby and then, when she was older, she played rugby for the York ladies team.
"I'm just so proud of her. I have to admit, I was a little worried when she said she was going to do a marathon and was very relieved when I got the text saying she had finished.
"It just goes to show that serious heart problems can be overcome.
"When she had her second operation, the survival rate was only 50 per cent and it was a very worrying time for us.
"But Samantha always stayed cheerful and positive. As she was being wheeled into theatre, it was her telling us not to worry and that she'd see us tomorrow."
To support Samantha and make a donation to the British Heart Foundation, visit www.bhf.org.uk/ sponsor/samanthalyth
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