FORMER Strictly star Gemma Atkinson grew tearful yesterday over a fan’s touching gesture in reminiscence of her late dad.
The actress and radio star, 36, shared a message from an Instagram follower whom advised her she can be operating the London Marathon in his reminiscence.
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David Atkinson died from a coronary heart assault aged 52 when Gemma was simply 17.
The fan wrote: “I’m operating for the BHF [British Heart Foundation] this yr. It might be an honour so as to add your dad’s identify to my ‘in reminiscence of’ listing.
“I’m writing these names on my arm because the inspiration to maintain me going.
“It’s my first marathon after solely having a child final yr it will be a tricky race however so price it for the work the British Coronary heart Basis do…”
Gemma was moved by the type phrases and added: “And now I am crying.… My dad was referred to as David Atkinson. Thanks a lot.”
The ex-Emmerdale star spoke about her dad’s dying on Steph’s Packed Lunch earlier this yr.
She mentioned: “It was an enormous shock for my older sister Nina and I to lose our dad when he was so younger.
“He was match and wholesome and robust and he was the final particular person you’d count on to break down with a coronary heart downside.
“Docs mentioned that they thought the trigger was stress associated. On the time, he was very match and wholesome, did not smoke and drank often.
“He managed an organization and was working lots and travelling everywhere in the world.”
She continued: “He’d had chest pains he thought was indigestion, so took heartburn tablets and carried on.
“Wanting again now, and because of my work with the British Coronary heart Basis, these have been basic warning indicators that one thing was mistaken.
“If he had gone to the medical doctors maybe he might have been investigated and so they might have helped him in time.”
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