Newtownabbey Mum Takes on Belfast Half Marathon After Surviving Heart Attack

A local mother who survived a sudden, life-threatening heart attack in her mid-thirties is preparing to take on the Belfast City Half Marathon this weekend to raise crucial funds for lifesaving heart research.

Newtownabbey resident Christine McNicholl, who recently celebrated her 40th birthday, was just 36 when she suffered a major heart attack in April 2022. At the time, her daughter Lucy was only six months old. Although Christine had a family history of heart disease—an uncle passed away suddenly at 42, and an aunt and another uncle had undergone triple heart bypass surgery—she had never experienced any personal heart issues.

On the day she fell ill, Christine initially felt unusually exhausted and nauseous, accompanied by upper-back pain and flu-like symptoms. As the evening progressed, she began vomiting, developed a high fever, and struggled to breathe. When severe pain began radiating into her left arm, her husband Barry, who had previous experience with St John Ambulance, immediately realised the gravity of the situation.

Christine was rushed to Antrim Area Hospital, where an urgent ECG prompted staff to act without delay. She was transferred by blue lights to the cardiac cath lab at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital, where doctors discovered a complete blockage in one of her main coronary arteries. Following a 90-minute emergency procedure to fit a stent, medical staff informed the couple that had Christine arrived just an hour later, she likely would not have survived.

Her journey to recovery required immense patience and determination. Alongside counselling from a clinical psychologist, Christine took part in cardiac rehabilitation at Antrim Hospital. To rebuild her physical strength and regain confidence in her body, she bought a treadmill for home walking, joined a specialist exercise referral scheme, and eventually took up Couch to 5K.

What started as gentle exercise quickly turned into a passion for running. Christine began participating in local parkruns, moved on to 5K and 10K events, and recently completed the Hillsborough Half Marathon in two hours and nine minutes as part of her training.

This Sunday, September 20, Christine will lace up her running shoes for the 13.1-mile Phoenix Energy Belfast City Half Marathon in aid of the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland (BHF NI). The milestone is especially poignant as her daughter Lucy has just started primary school.

Cardiovascular disease remains a significant issue across Northern Ireland, affecting more than 230,000 people and accounting for nearly a quarter of all deaths—an average of 12 lives lost every day. The British Heart Foundation highlights that stories like Christine's underline the vital importance of ongoing research, early prevention, and improved care.

Orla Copeland, Fundraising Manager at BHF NI, praised Christine's incredible courage and resilience, noting that going from a major heart attack at 36 to completing a half marathon is truly inspiring and will directly support essential research into heart and circulatory conditions.

Anyone wishing to support Christine's fundraising efforts for BHF NI can donate online at: http://eventmaster.ie/fundraising/pages/CM65869059