A 78-year-old man from Dunmurry takes on Belfast Half Marathon for BHF Northern Ireland after wife’s cardiac arrest
A 78-year-old Dunmurry man is preparing to run his third half marathon in a matter of months to raise funds and awareness for British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland, after heart conditions changed the lives of his family.
Robert Mearns will take on the Belfast Half Marathon this September, following runs at Hillsborough and Lisburn, inspired by his wife Iris, who has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and by his own diagnosis of atrial fibrillation.
Robert spent many years working in the private sector before devoting his life to missionary and community work across Europe, Africa, India, Mexico and America.
He has travelled to 25 nations through his work and spent 30 years living in the United States with his wife and three children, Simon, Grace and Alan, before Robert and Iris returned to Northern Ireland five years ago.
Ten years ago, Robert, who was living in North Carolina, woke in the middle of the night at his family home to find Iris had suffered a cardiac arrest.
He explained: “My wife and I were asleep in bed and I heard a thump on the wooden floor. My wife had a cardiac arrest and she stopped breathing. If I hadn’t woken, she wouldn’t have survived.
“I remember it vividly as the most traumatic thing that has ever happened to me.
"I’ve been in some very difficult situations in Africa with my missionary work, but nothing could prepare you for waking up to that.”
Their daughter Grace quickly called the emergency services and started CPR until paramedics arrived. Iris was taken to hospital, where she was placed in an induced coma for 11 days.
Robert continued: “Against all odds, Iris woke up and thankfully her brain function was normal. The nurses who were looking after her just wept with the family. We were all in such shock and so thankful. It really was a miracle.”
Iris, who had not experienced symptoms before her cardiac arrest, was diagnosed with HCM and later had a pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) fitted.
Since then, Robert and Iris’s children have been tested, with their eldest son Simon also diagnosed with HCM. Simon also now has a defibrillator and pacemaker fitted, and the family’s grandchildren are being tested for the genetic condition.
Robert says running gives him focus, purpose, and a way to give back.
He said: “Iris travelled all over the world with me, but now my world has to be compressed as a carer and Iris is my priority.
“I was diagnosed in 2022 with atrial fibrillation, an irregular heartbeat.
“With cardiovascular conditions affecting my entire family, I have a vested interest in heart research and the work of BHF.
“I want to share my story to raise awareness of the impact of cardiovascular disease and support funding of research into treatments and cures.
"Running for Iris and for everyone living with cardiovascular disease, will take my feet to the finish line.”
Donations can be made online at https://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/RM94666591
Orla Copeland, Fundraising Manager at British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland, said: “Robert’s determination is truly inspiring.
"By taking on the Belfast Half Marathon for BHF, he is helping to fund lifesaving research into heart and circulatory diseases and raising vital awareness of conditions that affect so many families.”