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‘My hole in the heart timebomb’: GP in fightback from adversity with charity campaign

By Ian Quinn

A veteran GP who was struck down by a rare clinical condition which he had unknowingly suffered since birth is fighting back by raising money for heart patients using his talent as a wildlife photographer.

Dr Ian Mason, a GP in Fife, Scotland for the past 30 years, suffered a stroke in January, which doctors later discovered had been caused by a hole in his heart.

While he continues his recovery, Dr Mason, 56, has turned to his hobby as a wildlife photographer and thanks to an exhibition and sale of his work at a nearby RSPB nature reserve has so far raised more than £1,000 for two stroke charities, Chest Heart Stroke Scotland and The Stroke Association.

'I've had lots of interest, especially from patients. It's been very moving to have had such a reaction from patients since I had the stroke and their support has been fantastic,' Dr Mason told Pulse.

‘It came completely out of the blue. I had no idea that I'd had a whole in my heart since birth. I had seemed completely fit.'

‘I'm lucky that I am still here and I hope to raise as much money as I can for these two charities,' he added.

Dr Ian Mason suffered a stroke caused by a hole in the heart Dr Ian Mason suffered a stroke caused by a hole in the heart Offer your support

To see Dr Mason's work and order his photography to raise funds for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland and The Stroke Association, visit his website at www.ianmasonnaturephotography.com.