Perryman and Mabbutt join 5k Aortic Dissection walk

Two of our greatest-ever players and captains have this week taken part in a five-kilometre charity walk to raise awareness and funds for victims of Aortic Dissection (AD).

Steve Perryman and Gary Mabbutt, our joint longest-serving captains at 11 years apiece and the top two players on the list of our all-time appearance-makers, joined charity ambassadors, cardiovascular surgeons, local dignitaries and fellow sporting figures for the high-profile trek around Ashton Gate in Bristol on Tuesday.

Representatives of Bristol City FC and Bristol Bears Rugby Club, who both play at the 27,000-seater venue, were also involved as the group marched to help promote medical research and education around AD, as well as fund support for victims and their families.

Steve, who won two UEFA Cups, two FA Cups and two League Cups during a glittering career in our colours, survived a dissected aorta – the major vessel which supplies oxygenated blood from the heart – after emergency surgery in 2012. Last year, he was named a Patient Ambassador for The Aortic Dissection Charitable Trust.

Gary, who won the 1984 UEFA Cup alongside Steve before lifting the 1991 FA Cup as captain in a similarly iconic 16-year playing career with us, returned to his home town to support the cause alongside his fellow former skipper.

“This event was as much about raising awareness as it was about raising funds,” said Steve. “With this condition, it’s all about awareness because when the problem arises, people need to know what to do. In the past, other conditions such as breast cancer and prostate cancer perhaps did not have the same amount of awareness that they do now – it goes to show how much can be achieved with staging events like this and I hope it can be the start of something bigger. Everyone involved with the walk had a hugely enjoyable experience – myself and Bob Harris both had the condition and the fact we were both there was because we have survived.”

“Every week in the UK and Ireland, around 40 people lose their lives after an Aortic Dissection,” said Club Ambassador Gary. “The figures are incredibly sad – we hope that by taking part in this week’s charity walk, we’ve helped to raise vital awareness around this awful medical problem which impacts so many lives. Steve was one of the unfortunate ones to suffer an Aortic Dissection back in 2012 but thankfully, due to the quick thinking and actions of those around him and subsequent surgery, he survived. Of course, we’re all delighted that Steve is still with us today, but others haven’t been as lucky – I hope that more people will now be aware of the dangers of AD and that we can all continue to look out for one another to ensure that more lives are saved.”