Milan Novakovic

Milan's story is one of courage and determination. He was born with "anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery", a rare congenital heart defect which results in the left side of the heart receiving "oxygen-poor" blood instead of the usual "oxygen-rich" blood. This lack of oxygen causes the heart muscle to die and leads to heart attacks. By his fourth month of life Milan had undergone two open heart operations with a third when he was 5 years old. Despite suffering fatigue and chest pains he has always been determined, without complaining, to live the same normal, fully active life as his identical able-bodied twin. His main sports include running, cycling, tennis, hockey (in which he represented Ealing in the London Youth Games 2005) and karate, gaining brown belt status. A heart attack, at the age of 17, necessitated further heart surgery (23 hours), as a complication of which, Milan's right lower leg "died". Undaunted by this event, Milan made the brave decision to amputate (2011). He is determined to return to his main sports using prostheses, to raise money for the hospitals that have treated him and to help and inspire other youngsters who have lost limbs. To start his fundraising he is to run a half marathon (faster than his twin) and cycle from London to Brighton. Milan's resilience to adversity, resolve to live life to the full and his strength of mind to overcome obstacles and to help others is a true inspiration to all who meet him.