20 May is run-day for hole-in-the-heart student

A second year physics student, whose hole in her heart was fixed by surgeons aged 3 months, will participate in The University of Manchester’s Purple Wave one year on from her second open heart surgery.

Imogen Davies, from Birmingham, will complete the 10k race as part of the Simply Health Great Manchester Run, despite her numerous health problems.

The inspirational 21-year-old will join more than 2000 staff, students and alumni to have registered for the race as part of The University of Manchester’s Purple wave on May 20.

The organisers are bidding to beat last year’s record-breaking total of 2,500 runners, who took part in the 10k run through Central Manchester.

The University will have its own start time, with runners - and run/walkers like Imogen- wearing the purple technical running t-shirts they receive on registration.

She said: “For me, the point is not running the whole way. In fact, I find it quite difficult, which is why I use a combination of running and walking. But nevertheless, I think it will take me 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 20 to get around.”

The student, who trains three times a week up to an impressive 5 miles each session, is not new to sport and fitness.

She said: “For me keeping fit is important because allows you experience things you would not be able to otherwise, like hiking down the Grand Canyon.

“Helicopters are no longer allowed to fly down to the Colorado River, so without being physically able to hike the south face of the Grand Canyon, I would never have comprehended the true size of the river.”

At school, she was a keen swimmer, competing in the breaststroke and coming third in the Worcester County Age Group Championships aged 14.