Mum takes on race in her dad’s memory

MUM Joanne Gilley was trying her wedding dress for the first time when she received the devastating news that her dad Clive had died suddenly.

He had collapsed as he took Joanne’s children swimming and, despite frantic efforts by her now husband Mark to carry out CPR, Clive was pronounced dead by medics.

Now, in a bid to raise money in her dad’s memory, 38-year-old Joanne is in training for next month’s Cardiff Half Marathon.

On May 19, 2014, mum of three Joanne, from Beddau, near Pontypridd, had gone to try on her dress.

She said: “I had a phone call from the shop that morning telling me my dress was ready to go and try it on.

“My dad was taking my little one with my husband to meet the boys at school and go swimming, but within 10 minutes of them leaving us, I had a phone call to say he had collapsed and died. It was as quick as that.

“He just got to school and dropped dead in front of my three children.”

Mark carried out CPR on Clive until the ambulance arrived, but the 64-year-old was pronounced dead.

“It was a shock more than anything. There was no preparation for it at all. I thought trying on my dress it would be a happy day, but our life was turned upside down in an instant,” said Joanne.

She said it came as even more shocking news because Clive, who was retired and had worked for Rhondda Cynon Taf council, had “no symptoms whatsoever”.

They later found out he had severe heart disease.

She added: “There were no warning signs or anything. It’s something you cannot understand how someone can be there one minute and then they are gone.”

The couple got married on August 29, and now she is training to raise money for the British Heart Foundation by running in the Cardiff event on October 1.

Joanne, who is a nursery nurse and mum to Rhys, 10, Ben, eight, and Emily, four, said: “Training has been alright so far, but I’m by no means a natural runner.

“I started training fully on June 30 and it’s crept up on me a little. It’s hard work, but I am really excited about it.

“This half marathon will be a massive challenge for me, but I will give 100%.”

Mark said: “As a family we are so proud of Jo. She is a fantastic daughter, a beautiful wife and the best ever mum. A true inspiration to her children.”

To donate to Joanne’s cause, visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ joannegilley