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# Woman to take on London Marathon to raise awareness of heart attack risk
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/woman-to-take-on-london-marathon-to-raise-awareness-of-heart-attack-risk/
- Published: 2024-03-21T08:10:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-03-20T18:44:53.000Z
- Description: A local woman is taking on a marathon challenge to raise awareness of the risks of heart attacks in women.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Charity, Health, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 18:58, News

A local woman is taking on a marathon challenge to raise awareness of the risks of heart attacks.

Sarah McCay Tams from Barton-under-Needwood will take on the London Marathon later this year.

The 49-year-old’s run will come less than a year after she suffered a heart attack.

She told Lichfield Live:

> “One day last August I woke up feeling funny. I had a very busy day ahead of me and I already felt stressed about how I was going to fit it all in.  
>  
> “As I made the bed, I started to get a tight pain across my breastplate and collarbone. It was not painful enough to stop me from tidying though.  
>  
> “But then came the shooting pains down my right arm. Again, not excruciating. But something told me this wasn’t right.  
>  
> “I told my husband Rob how I felt and he told me to dial 111\. An hour later I was in an ambulance heading to A&E with a suspected heart attack.  
>  
> “I had to stay in the cardio ward – not an experience I ever want to repeat.”  
>  
> Sarah McCay Tams

Heart Research UK say that women are less likely to recognise the symptoms of a heart attack than men.

Sarah said:

> “Little known, is that women experience heart attacks differently to men and our symptoms often go unnoticed.  
>  
> “I could easily have dismissed mine, so I am running the London Marathon for Heart Research UK to help raise awareness as well as funds.”  
>  
> Sarah McCay Tams

Sarah said that her heart attack had led to changes in her own life.

> “The heart attack was confirmed and, as there were no lifestyle factors for me to change as I was only 49, a non-smoker and not overweight, I was told I needed to ‘slow down’ and that stress was likely the main factor.  
>  
> “I listened and immediately requested a drop in hours at work. I now work only three days a week. It feels like the right balance for me.”  
>  
> Sarah McCay Tams

People can donate to Sarah’s fundraising London Marathon run [online](https://2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/sarah-mccay-tams?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk).