News

What's the latest news in Aortic Dissection awareness? As the national patient charity for the UK & Ireland, we'll keep you up-to-date here.

All (64) Patients & Families (17) Patient Stories (14) THINK AORTA® (10) Healthcare Professionals (11) Fundraising (7) Research (8)

THINK AORTA® - 100 Mountains - Cent Cols Challenge

Posted on 25th August 2025

For many, an aortic dissection can feel like the end of freedom and fun. For Howard, it became the start of something new — a chance to get back on...

New THINK AORTA® Lead for the UK and Ireland - Tony Webb

Posted on 25th July 2025

We’re pleased to announce Tony Webb as the new THINK AORTA® Lead for the UK and Ireland. After losing his partner Rocky to an undiagnosed aortic...

Bob Bonser Aortic Surgery Prize for Researcher

Posted on 19th July 2025

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland congratulates our friend & colleague Dr. Riccardo Abbasciano on being awarded the Bob Bonser Aortic...

Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK 2026 - Save the Date!

Posted on 1st July 2025

Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK 2026 will be on Friday 18th September 2026. Save the date.

Patients & charities an integral part of the 1st Edinburgh Aortic Summit

Posted on 30th June 2025

Aortic patients and their patient charities were an integral part of the inaugural Edinburgh Aortic Summit, held at the Royal College of Surgeons of...

Charity launches new Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm patient leaflet

Posted on 28th June 2025

Helping patients and families understand a life-altering diagnosis, in partnership with expert cardiologists. Aortic Dissection Awareness UK &...

Elizabeth's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 1st June 2025

Elizabeth Ganly, 77 recalls her first heart-related symptom and the experience that followed.

Rachel's Type B aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 26th May 2025

Rachel Linford from Preston, Lancashire was 30 when she suffered an acute Type B aortic dissection.

'Pilgrim of the Tides' film now available on YouTube

Posted on 21st May 2025

We're delighted to announce that 'Pilgrim of the Tides' - a short documentary film by Nigel Morgan about Mike Lambert's epic solo kayak...

Booking now open for Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK 2025

Posted on 2nd April 2025

We are delighted to announce that booking is now open for the annual Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, to be held in Leicester on Thursday 18th...

THINK AORTA charity bike ride honours Keynsham mum's memory

Posted on 18th March 2025

Jackie Duffy, sister of Keynsham mum Sharon Goddard who tragically died of a misdiagnosed acute aortic dissection, is leading a THINK AORTA charity...

Director and filmstar to attend Movie Night at the SCTS Annual Meeting 2025

Posted on 14th March 2025

We're delighted to announce that Mike Lambert and director Nigel Morgan will attend the screening of 'Pilgrim of the Tides' at the SCTS Annual...

New Chair & Vice Chair elected for national Aortic Dissection patient charity

Posted on 21st February 2025

The Trustees of national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland have elected a new Chair & Vice-Chair. Aortic Dissection...

Michael's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 8th February 2025

Michael Black 42, suffered a type A dissection and underwent a hemiarch replacement in March 2024. His story began on a normal evening spent at the...

Aortic Specialist Nurse service launched by national patient charity

Posted on 16th January 2025

Aortic Dissection patients can now book an appointment in a virtual Aortic Specialist Nurse clinic, led by Emma Hope, as award-winning national...

Three new Trustees elected by national patient charity for Aortic Dissection

Posted on 9th January 2025

Three new Trustees have been elected by the membership of national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland at the charity's AGM....

DVLA agrees new guidance on driving after Aortic Dissection with national patient charity

Posted on 5th January 2025

As awareness of Aortic Dissection increases, national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland engaged with DVLA to clarify its...

New guide to Bereavement due to Aortic Dissection for families launched

Posted on 24th November 2024

As National Grief Awareness Week (December 2–8) shines a spotlight on the challenges of navigating loss, national patient charity Aortic Dissection...

The Aortic Dissection Awareness charity online shop is now open!

Posted on 17th November 2024

We’re thrilled to announce the launch of the Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland charity online shop! This is more than just a store; it’s a...

King sends greetings to national patient charity on Aortic Dissection Awareness Day

Posted on 22nd September 2024

His Majesty the King sent his best wishes to patients, relatives and clinicians from national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK &...

THINK AORTA campaign welcomes two new global organisations on Aortic Dissection Awareness Day

Posted on 19th September 2024

THINK AORTA – the global, patient-led campaign to save lives in acute Aortic Dissection – today welcomed announcements by The Marfan Foundation (US)...

Jeni's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 18th August 2024

Jeni Bennett aged 44 from Swindon suffered her aortic dissection in 2005 after falling ill at work. When reaching hospital, she explained about her...

Aortic Dissection Awareness Day Ireland 2024

Posted on 14th August 2024

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN! We are delighted to announce the programme for the national patient charity's 3rd annual Aortic Dissection Awareness Day...

Mark's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 2nd August 2024

Mark Smith an active 59-year-old had started to enjoy his retirement when he suffered an aortic dissection during a trail run. Mark tells us his...

Charity welcomes Mike Lambert home as he completes solo round-Britain kayak in 58 days

Posted on 29th July 2024

Sunday, 28th July 2024, 4:20pm: Mike Lambert arrives to a triumphal welcome on East Wittering beach, completing his 3,020km, 58-day solo kayak around...

Singer and Aortic Dissection survivor Blythe releases new single inspired by her experience

Posted on 25th July 2024

Singer/songwriter Blythe's new single It Could Be Now, released today, is a deeply personal reflection on living with a Type B Aortic Dissection...

Aortic Dissection charity achieves dual recognition in international non-profit organization awards

Posted on 12th July 2024

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland named "Best Aortic Dissection Patient Charity - UK" and the THINK AORTA campaign wins the "AI Excellence...

Round-Britain kayaker meets HM Lord Lieutenant of Caithness

Posted on 1st July 2024

One month into his solo circumnavigation of the UK, THINK AORTA kayaker Mike Lambert met Lord Thurso, HM Lord Lieutenant for Caithness, while...

Stevie's Type A aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 16th June 2024

Kirsty Paterson talks about what happened to her Dad Stevie after he suffered a sudden Type A Aortic Dissection at age 57.

Sharon's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 8th June 2024

Sharon Goddard suffered an acute Aortic Dissection as her plane landed in the UK after a family holiday

Kayaker sets off on world record challenge in memory of Mum

Posted on 1st June 2024

Mike Lambert is attempting to break the world record for kayaking 3,000km around the coast of Britain, in memory of his Mum who died of an aortic...

Aortic Specialist Nurse to join aortic dissection patient charity

Posted on 19th May 2024

Award-winning national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has announced that Emma Hope will join the charity as its Aortic...

Life-saving THINK AORTA campaign launched in Canada

Posted on 27th April 2024

Our life-saving THINK AORTA campaign is being launched across Canada by our international partner GADA - the Genetic Aortic Diseases Association of...

Aortic Dissection support group welcomes 1,000th member

Posted on 3rd April 2024

Today, the national patient charity for Aortic Dissection in the UK & Ireland welcomed the 1,000th member to its AD Buddies peer support group....

Tributes paid to patient member Sharon Sewell

Posted on 22nd March 2024

A moving tribute to our patient member Sharon Sewell has been published in the Derby Telegraph following her untimely death, three years after Aortic...

Patient pioneer reunited with surgeons at national conference

Posted on 18th March 2024

Sarah Nuttman, the first UK patient to have a surgical repair of her Aorta using the new Thoracoflo™ Aortic graft from Terumo Aortic, has been...

Sarah's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 18th March 2024

Patient Pioneer: Sarah, pictured here with her surgeon, Mr. Jorge Mascaro, is the first patient in the UK to have an Aortic repair using the new...

New NHS acute Aortic Dissection SOP endorsed by national patient charity at Oxford launch

Posted on 1st March 2024

Oxford: NHS England SW and SE regions today launch a new Supra-regional Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for acute Aortic Dissection. This is...

Irish Aortic surgeon receives Patients' Choice Award

Posted on 6th February 2024

Mr. Saleem Jahangeer, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at St. James's Hospital, Dublin received the Patients' Choice Award at a hospital staff...

National patient charity welcomes Royal Colleges' updated guidance on Aortic Dissection diagnosis

Posted on 1st February 2024

The publication of updated national guidance on the diagnosis of Aortic Dissection by two Royal Colleges has been welcomed by the national patient...

Award-winning national Aortic Dissection patient charity publishes 2023 Impact Report

Posted on 30th December 2023

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has published its 2023 Impact Report. The Trustees would like to thank the many members, partners,...

Melanie's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 18th December 2023

An inspirational heartfelt story of an Aortic Dissection patient’s triumph, determination, and true love in New York!

Prashant's Type A aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 18th December 2023

Prashant was 38, a young fit and healthy man, when he suffered a Type A Aortic Dissection while working out at the gym.

Consensus reached on transfer of acute aortic dissection patients to specialist centres

Posted on 6th December 2023

A multi-disciplinary team of clinical experts working with national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has published a...

Award-winning patient charity launches new Aortic Dissection website

Posted on 27th November 2023

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland, the UK's Best Specialist Patient Support Charity 2023, has launched a brand new website designed by a...

Andrew's Type A aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 12th November 2023

Andrew Stevenson was Director of Research & Enterprise at the University of Lincoln when he suffered an acute Type A Aortic Dissection at the age...

Stefan's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 8th November 2023

Stefan had at first refused to seek medical help, but ended up undergoing a 12-hour life-saving operation to repair an Aortic Dissection and was...

Patient charity team completes 1,375-mile ABLEJOG fundraiser

Posted on 7th November 2023

A team of 53 patients and relatives from Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland walked 1,375 miles - the distance from Lands End to John...

Howard's aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 6th November 2023

Howard Dyson 64, tells us about a rare incidence of aortic dissection which happened accidentally during routine surgery.

Anne's Type A aortic dissection patient story

Posted on 6th November 2023

Anne Cotton is a retired Primary School Teacher from Warwick who had her entire Aorta replaced in three stages, after suffering an acute Type A...

A step forward for Aortic Dissection care in the UK

Posted on 19th October 2023

Great news for our charity as our Chair, Gareth Owens, has been invited to join the NHS national steering group looking at the challenges of aortic...

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland voted Best Specialist Patient Support Charity UK 2023

Posted on 30th June 2023

Fantastic news as our national patient charity is awarded the accolade of Best Special Patient Support Charity - UK - 2023 for our dedicated work...

Mr Geoff Tsang joins national patient charity as Medical Advisor

Posted on 29th March 2023

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has announced the appointment of Mr. Geoff Tsang, Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon at Southampton...

Royal Papworth to host AD Awareness Day UK 2023

Posted on 16th January 2023

Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded the honour of hosting Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK on Tuesday 19 September 2023...

Research identifies “new normal” blood pressure in aortic disease

Posted on 22nd December 2022

As 2023 closes, we want to highlight an important paper published in early 2022. This work quantified the increase in risk of having an aortic...

Leaflet Launch: Planning Pregnancy with Aortic Disease

Posted on 7th September 2022

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has launched an important new resource for mothers and those contemplating pregnancy, ‘Planning...

Launch of Aortic Dissection: The Patient Guide

Posted on 8th May 2022

Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has launched, at the SCTS 2022 annual meeting in Belfast, a major new resource for patients, ‘Aortic...

Patient Leaders Welcome Publication of Life-Saving Aortic Dissection Guidance

Posted on 10th March 2022

Two survivors of a life-threatening cardiac condition have welcomed the publication of new national guidance to improve the diagnosis of Aortic...

Think Aorta US featured on the Donna Drake Show

Posted on 1st December 2021

US TV chat show host Donna Drake invited Carin Andersen and Ben Youdelman from THINK AORTA US into her studio for a live interview about our...

Aortic dissection survivor appointed as Head of Research by national patient association

Posted on 23rd September 2021

National patient association Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland is delighted to announce that we recently appointed Dr. Gordon McManus as...

First-ever patient-led abstract presented at SCTS

Posted on 10th May 2021

Today, national patient charity Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland is proud to publish the first-ever patient-led abstract accepted as a...

Aortic Dissection - UK Research Workshop

Posted on 11th December 2020

On 11th December 2020, Aortic Dissection Awareness UK&I were delighted to attend and present at a national Aortic Dissection Research Priorities...

Genetics Update lists 37 genes associated with Aortic Dissection

Posted on 19th December 2019

An update to the series of papers collating the latest genetics research on aortic dissection has been published. Following on two previous years’...

BHF Cardiovascular Research Centre to host Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK 2019

Posted on 30th July 2019

National patient association Aortic Dissection Awareness UK & Ireland has announced that the fourth annual Aortic Dissection Awareness Day UK, on...

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Events

What events are coming-up about Aortic Dissection? Join us for one of the events we organise, such as national Aortic Dissection Awareness Day in the...

Patient Stories

Many individual patient stories, together, make up the story of our Aortic Dissection patient charity. You can read some of them here. New stories...