A CHARITY challenge taking place in September this year is close to the heart of an Inverness cyclist in more ways than one.

For it was only nine months ago when Jim Thomson, who is gearing up to take part in the Heartbeat Challenge, underwent a quintuple heart bypass operation.

The Heartbeat Challenge, this year supported by the Highland News Group, involves a 12-mile run or walk over hills, and a 10-mile return by bike in the Clava and Moy areas outside Inverness.

It is being held to raise money for cardiac care in the Highlands. In four years, the challenge has raised £55,000.

And after undergoing major surgery to bypass five of his coronary arteries, Jim knows only too well how vital cardiac services are.

The 66-year-old, of Culloden Road, Balloch, said: "The challenge makes a valuable contribution financially, and needs all the help it can get.

"From my experience, the work cardiac surgeons do is very successful. There seems to be plenty of people who are candidates for heart problems."

A keen cyclist for over 50 years, he describes himself as having kept "reasonably fit", and did not expect to suffer from heart problems himself.

However, it was thanks to his cycling he noticed his health was not right.

The retired accountant, who is a committee member on the Heartbeat Challenge, recalled: "About a year ago, I started noticing I was struggling to breathe while cycling, and began having chest pains. I realised there must be something wrong. In hindsight, the condition had been developing for some time before, but I put it down to being older and a decline in fitness."

After a visit to his GP, he was referred to Raigmore Hospital.

Jim, who is married to Sharon (59), said: "An angiogram showed I had angina requiring treatment. Because I knew there was something wrong, I was half prepared for it."

Last October, he underwent the six-hour op at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Revealing huge vertical scars on his chest and left leg, he described how the procedure involved surgeons opening up his chest, stopping his heart and cutting a vein out of his leg. The vein was then cut into different pieces to act as bypasses on the problem areas.

He recalled: "I was in some state! I was there for a week and the treatment was tremendous. Because the whole process had been fairly quick, I didn't have time to think about it. I also knew the success rate was very high, so oddly enough I wasn't too worried."

Following the op, although he was uncomfortable and couldn't sneeze, cough or laugh in case it opened up his wound, he noticed an immediate improvement in his breathing, and within two or three months he had regained mobility.

By February, he was back on his bike.

He said: "Before the op, I was doing a couple of cycles a week of about 30miles, now I'm doing three trips of between 40 and 60 miles.

"I didn't realise how much I had deteriorated until I was fixed. My breathing is so much easier."

Jim has noticed another benefit - keeping up with his 17-month-old grand-daughter.

He added: "Before the op, I would never have been able to run around after her - now I can nearly run around after her!"

He gained support from the Highland Heartbeat Centre, a purpose-built cardiac facility which opened in November 2005 at Raigmore after the Highland News Group spear-headed a major campaign to raise over £1 million.

As he recovered from his operation, he attended an 11-week physiotherapy class there where he learned exercises, nutritional advice, and more about his condition.

He urges people to take part in the Heartbeat Challenge, to raise more vital funds for cardiac services.

He said: "I'm doing the challenge to prove you can do it after a this operation. But you don't have to do the challenge, you can just donate. It's a worth-while cause."

The Highland News Group will be running a series of articles ahead of the challenge. To share an inspiring story about why you are taking part, please contact the newsdesk on 01463 732230.

What is the Heartbeat Challenge?

THE Heartbeat Challenge, supported by the Highland News Group, takes place on Saturday, September 10.

It involves 12 miles of hills by foot, either running or walking, followed by a 10-mile return by bike. The route starts at Clava Viaduct, goes over the Saddle and Pulpit Hills, into the Moy Estate, through Strathnairn, and returning along the old A9.

Children aged between 12 and 15 can also enter along with an adult.

For more info and to enter, visit www.heartbeatchallenge.co.uk or email info@heartbeatchallenge.co.uk