A woman who planned her own funeral after being given only weeks to live has today received the number one race card to wear on a 40-mile cycle challenge later this year.

Wendy Lingham, who was diagnosed with heart failure in 2002 and had to undergo an emergency heart transplant in 2011, is pedalling to raise awareness about the disease which nearly took her life.

Cycling for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) in the Heart Of York bike ride, Wendy, who before her operation was “practically bedbound”, is hoping to raise as much money as possible to work towards finding a cure for heart failure.

Wendy, of Clifton, York, said: “My son had to witness the distressing symptoms of heart failure, the extreme tiredness and breathlessness.

“We lost that time together, something we will never get back. It was heartbreaking.”

The family bike ride, which takes place on September 1 and sets off from York, also aims to raise money for the Broken Hearts Appeal, which funds heart failure research.

Wendy contracted a condition called dilated cardiomyopathy during pregnancy and was placed on the emergency transplant list.

She said: “I had to prepare for the inevitable. I had to plan a future for my son Joshua, a future without me, and make my own funeral arrangements in case I didn’t pull through.”

Heart disease is the UK’s biggest killer, and three-quarters of people diagnosed with severe heart failure will not live beyond five years.

Wendy cycled the 22-mile route in the first Heart of York bike ride last year. This year she has chosen to take on the challenging 40-mile route through Strensall Common and past Castle Howard, and will lead the cyclists wearing the number one race card, presented to her today by Phil McMahon, committee vice chair of BHF York.

Mr McMahon, who has also organised the event, said: “We can’t thank Wendy enough for her generous support. Events like the Heart of York Bike Ride raise vital funds that help the BHF continue its life-saving and life-changing work and we hope people will support us telling their friends about the event, and cycling or volunteering on the day.”

To sponsor Wendy visit: justgiving.com/Wendy-Lingham1