He had to have a pacemaker fitted after noticing his heart rate was not within a normal range
A headteacher from Longstanton needed surgery after being diagnosed with a dangerously slow heart rate. Now, Jonathan Newman will run the Great North Run on September 13 to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The 56-year-old had planned to run the event 25 years ago, but was suffering from severe rheumatoid arthritis at the time. The headteacher of Histon and Impington Park Primary was diagnosed with bradycardia in 2023. The condition sees the resting heart rate consistently below 60 beats per minute, with additional symptoms of dizziness, palpitations, tiredness, and fainting.
Jonathan said: “It was Spring 2023 and I didn’t feel quite right and noticed on my sports watch that my heart rate was not within a normal range.” His GP referred him to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, where he underwent some tests in the cardiology department.
Jonathan was told that he would need a pacemaker to keep his heart beating at a faster, more regular rhythm. A pacemaker is a small electrical device that’s put under the skin in your chest.
The devices are used to treat some abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) that can cause your heart to beat too slowly or miss beats. Jonathan’s pacemaker sends data to a small box device in his bedroom that sends it on to his team at Papworth, so they can keep an eye on his condition.
He was also told by his cardiologist that he was safe to continue running after recovering from his pacemaker operation at the Royal Papworth Hospital in June 2023.
He said: “It does give me peace of mind and I feel very lucky that my issues were all picked up so quickly and that I made the sensible decision to seek medical help. I’m about to retire from my job as a headteacher, but I do have plans to keep working in some capacity when I’ve had a break.
“Life is precious and like many people I want to make a difference in my community. I’m heavily involved in Junior Parkrun and have taken a running coaching course and volunteer at my local athletics club Cambridge and Coleridge. Since having my pacemaker fitted, I have run over 100 Parkruns and improved my time to just over 21 minutes.”
Jonathan also ran the Madrid 10k in 2025 to raise money for the BHF, and said he feels like he is “completing the circle” by doing the GNR.
“I’m really looking forward to it and giving back to the British Heart Foundation’s research which helped develop the pacemaker,” he said. “It’s going to be a very special milestone for me and I thank my lucky stars for being able to enjoy my running.”
Lesley Birch, Deputy CEO of Meridian Trust, said: “Having worked with Jonathan for many years, I’ve seen the dedication he brings to everything he does. We are immensely proud of him as he takes on the Great North Run, though it comes as no surprise that he is turning his own health journey into a way to reassure and inspire others.
“Throughout his time at Histon & Impington Park Primary, Jonathan has championed the power of sport and physical activity, not least by driving our regional cross-country events, teaching our pupils invaluable lessons in resilience, teamwork, and perseverance. We will all be cheering him on every step of the way on September 13.”
Emma Hulland, from the BHF, said: “It’s fantastic to see Jonathan’s courage and determination to help us fund lifesaving research. Without the dedication of our team of BHF runners and the commitment of people like Jonathan we wouldn’t be able to fund research that has already broken new ground, revolutionised treatments and transformed the lives of millions of people in the UK.”
You can view Jonathan’s JustGiving page here.
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