Meet the inspirational 15-year-old boy from Leeds nominated for three Yorkshire Choice Awards
A 15-year-old boy from Leeds has defied the odds to be nominated for three awards at this year’s Yorkshire Choice Awards.
Marty Bishop, 15, alongside his family and friends, has raised more than £100,000 for Cardiomyopathy UK, the leading UK charity supporting people and families affected by the condition under the tagline ‘Marty’s Penny Bank’.
The youngster was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle, before he was even born and his early prognosis was not good and his life expectancy very poor.
Despite spending a lot of time in hospital throughout his early years and receiving specialist care almost continually, Marty has now defied the odds to lead a relatively normal teenage life.
“When we were given Marty’s diagnoses, he wasn't even born. He was given a very poor prognosis for survival and the journey we have been on continues to write an incredible story,” Marty’s proud mum Sarah said.
“We were thrown into a world of fear and unknown when we knew our unborn baby had heart muscle disease, and the support we received from the Charity was our absolute lifeline.”
Cardiomyopathy is a condition which affects the structure of the heart and reduces its ability to pump blood around the body. It is listed as the main cause of sudden cardiac death in under 35-year-olds.
The Bishop family has taken on a huge range of challenges including marathons, skydives, concerts, supermarket collections, and countless community-led initiatives. They previously featured in the YEP when Marty was just six-years-old.
Recognising these efforts, Marty has been nominated for three awards at this year’s Yorkshire Choice Awards: Rob Burrow Outstanding Courage, Inspirational Individual, and Fundraiser of the Year.
“Marty is an absolute inspiration, as apart from the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy he has faced many other challenges including being diagnosed with autism at the age of 10 and overcoming a frightening MRSA bacteremia in 2023,” Sarah added.
“He has been through so much and yet never understands why this makes him so worthy of the admiration and of course the awards he has been nominated for.”
Alongside Cardiomyopathy UK, the Bishop’s have also raised in excess of £10,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital, whose team of experts continue to keep an eye on Marty’s health.
Approximately 266,000 people in the UK are currently believed to be living with the condition.
Sarah confirmed that Marty is currently well from a heart perspective, and you can cast your vote for him in the Yorkshire Choice Awards at https://www.yorkshirechoiceawards.co.uk/vote.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Bishop family for their outstanding support over the years. Reaching £100,000 is an amazing achievement and reflects the dedication, resilience, and compassion that Marty, Sarah, Darren, and their loved ones show time and time again,” Cardiomyopathy UK’s Fundraising and Development Manager, Jaye, said.