After we posted news last week of the fundraising efforts of press officer, Andy Dunne, who is cycling, swimming and running this summer to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and The Grand Appeal, there has been a fantastic response from across the University community.

In the space of just over a week nearly £500 was donated, pushing Andy within touching distance of his £3,000 overall fundraising target.

Last August Andy’s son, Imre, was born with the condition 'transposition of the great arteries' requiring quick medical intervention and major heart surgery shortly after birth. Thanks to the incredible skills and talents of staff at the Bristol Children’s Hospital, nearly twelve months on little Imre is thriving.

As a way of saying thank you to the two charities that provided vital support to his family, he is taking part in a deconstructed triathlon to raise money for the BHF and The Grand Appeal – the charity linked to Bristol Children’s Hospital.

Earlier this month he completed the Bristol Nightrider 100k cycle and last weekend swam the 2.5k Pier to Pier race in Bournemouth. In mid-September he will tackle the Bristol Half Marathon.

He said: “A huge thank you from me to everyone across the University, including the many very generous anonymous donors, who have helped me to raise so much money for these two charities. It’s been a fantastic response and one that will make a massive difference to two organisations carrying out vital work and whose support was so important to my family last summer.”

To read more about Imre's story, and to help Andy reach his fundraising target please visit http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/imre