A YEOVIL dad has been praised for giving back to a cardiac charity that provided vital respite for his family.

Nigel Brown has raised more than £10,000 for Heartbeat – a charity which provides support for those affected by cardiovascular diseases – over the past 20 years.

His first involvement with the charity was when his 10-year-old son George had surgery to replace his aorta and aortic valve at University Hospital Southampton.

This saw the parents stay at the 24-bedroom ‘home from home’ Rotary Heartbeat House adjacent to the hospital in 2006.

When George would go on to have further surgery as a teenager, the pair stayed at the house on several occasions.

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Nigel’s family has had more need of this facility than most.

His wife and daughter were diagnosed with Loeys-Dietz syndrome, which affects the body’s connective tissue and can lead to heart problems.

Diana underwent surgery to replace her descending aorta but sadly passed away last year.

Nigel’s daughter Lisa had the same procedure this year, following the birth of her first baby.

She was in surgery for 19 hours and her husband stayed at the house during her treatment.

“Rotary Heartbeat House is such a fantastic place,” said Nigel. “When George was ill, we would sometimes stay there for two or three weeks at a time.

“It was so important for him to know we were there.

“Being able to stay close by when someone you love is having surgery is amazing when you have so many other things to worry about. It just takes the pressure off.

“All you have to do is get yourself some food. Everything else is supplied.”

As well as sponsoring a room at Rotary Heartbeat House for a year, both Nigel and his eldest son have completed sponsored cycle rides for Heartbeat to show their support.

Tanya Harder, community fundraising and marketing manager at Heartbeat, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Nigel and his family for their generosity and support over the years.

“The whole family has had a particularly challenging journey and we are in awe of his dedication in helping us ensure that others facing similar challenges have the support they need.”