A Bradford student who was born with two holes in her heart is backing a major new research programme by the British Heart Foundation to find a cure for heart failure.

The charity’s £50 million Mending Broken Hearts Appeal aims to fund the research that could make recovery from a heart attack as simple as getting over a broken leg.

Philippa Barraclough, 19, of Horton Bank Top, was born with two holes in her heart and also has an interrupted aortic arch, which makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the lower parts of the body.

She underwent open heart surgery at the age of one week and spent three and a half months in hospital. Philippa now controls her condition with medication as she still suffers from high blood pressure.

Although she will not directly benefit from the Mending Broken Hearts Appeal, her family knows first hand the impact heart disease can have on a family and hopes this will stop other families suffering.

Philippa said: “It has been hard and I haven’t been able to run around and do physical things. I try to do as much volunteering work for the BHF as possible as their work is so important and I hope that other people will support the campaign.”

For an appeal pack call 0300 333 0333 or visit bhf.org.uk/mbh.