HeartSmart Case Study: Lew Ralph

Lew Ralph, 52, from Petts Wood in Kent, is a keen cyclist, who has taken part in the Ride London 100-mile bike ride for the past six years. In 2022, Lew suffered a heart attack. Afterwards, he attended Mytime Active’s Phase 3 REES (Relaxation, Education and Exercise) sessions, which he credits with putting him back on track and believes should be compulsory for anyone who’s suffered a heart attack due to their positive impact.

“Every year, I took part in the Ride London cycle for a different charity. In 2022, I was riding for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, as my friend’s 12-year-old son had leukaemia,” says Lew. “I was fit and healthy, cycling more than 30 miles a day – I’d say I was the fittest I’d ever been.

“During the weekend before, May Bank Holiday Monday, I was extremely tired and couldn't keep my eyes open, which really wasn’t normal for me. On the Monday morning I set out for my morning ride, but eight miles in I got a puncture and so called my wife to pick me up. I spent the afternoon fixing the puncture and cleaning my bike so I’d had a restful day.

“About 9.30pm I felt as if I was going to pass out. My wife said my eyes rolled and I went stiff as a board, so she phoned an ambulance as she assumed I was having a stroke. The paramedics did two ECG's which were abnormal, and after having another two ECG's and blood tests in the hospital they told me I’d suffered a heart attack. After an angiogram I found out I would need surgery to fit two 30mm stents into my left artery as it was very thin. It was a huge shock. By calling 999 so quickly, my wife saved my life.

“I had surgery on 7th May and was due to be cycling 100 miles on 29th May. It was all I could think about. My cardiologist said I could start cycling again after 10 days – I took him at his word. Between 20th and 29th May I cycled about 300 miles and, on 29th May, I completed Ride London in under seven hours, taking it very easy and stopping whenever I needed to.

“The problems started after that ride. I lost faith in myself and my body. My GP was telling me I should be doing nothing for six months and giving myself time to recover; it really knocked my confidence. I was worried it was going to happen again if I exercised and concerned about getting back on my bike – I didn’t know what my body could or couldn’t do anymore.

“My cardiology team referred me to Mytime Active for cardiac rehab and I was offered eight sessions. I can safely say those eight sessions are the best thing I have ever done. I just wish it had been longer.

“I was given a fitness test, but it’s not just about exercise – the team go through your medications with you (and believe me, there are a LOT of medications!) and help to make it all less alien. During the class there are nurses to keep an eye on your blood pressure, so you feel safe to push yourself and get your heart rate up. It’s like an old-fashioned aerobics class – not my usual activity of choice! Everyone looks as daft as each other so I decided I had to throw myself in and go for gold; I loved it.

“I was very lucky to be referred; I think these classes should be compulsory for cardiac patients. There wasn’t one person who finished eight sessions and wanted to leave. It allays your fears, puts your mind at rest and reassures you that you can get back to normal. My confidence went through the roof. All of us came out as different people; it’s life changing. I did the Ride London again in 2023 – this time for the British Heart Foundation!

“If I had not attended those courses, I would not be where I am today. They gave me a whole new outlook on what I could do. The Mytime Active team are amazing; they’re first class. If you’ve suffered a heart attack it’s easy to think ‘I’m doomed, my life is over.’ The team stopped me thinking like that. They’re truly remarkable and I just want to say a massive thank you for putting me back on track after the heart attack. Unless you’ve done the classes it’s hard to understand the positive impact they have, especially mentally.

“After my eight-week course I knew I would recover fully, something I hadn’t believed before. Thank you from all the thousands of people you have, and are, helping – we would be in a bad place without you guys.”

Mytime Active has been partnering its trained exercise specialists with the Princess Royal University Hospital’s cardiac nurse-led team for more than 20 years, delivering eight-week exercise and education programmes. Mytime Active also delivers a 12-week Cardiac Rehab programme, HeartSmart, commissioned by the South East London Integrated Care Board (SELICB). After completing the courses, participants are offered a choice of 12 different classes a week, run by its exercise specialists within the health team, so support is there for the long term.