Wimbledon Author Marks World Heart Day and One-Year Anniversary of Memoir.

​PRESS RELEASE
 
For Immediate Release – 2 October 2025
 
Wimbledon Author Marks World Heart Day and One-Year Anniversary of Memoir.
 
This week marked World Heart Day (29 September) – a global campaign to raise awareness of cardiovascular health. For local author Gerry Shepherd, the date carries special meaning: it falls in the same week as the one-year anniversary of her memoir’s publication in paperback.
 
Born with a serious heart condition, Gerry Shepherd has spent her life navigating the challenges of operations, hospital stays, and the emotional impact of growing up with a heart problem. Her memoir, Gerry and her Pacemakers, first published in paperback on 29 September 2024, tells this story in raw detail. It has since been released in hardback, Kindle and audiobook editions — and has connected with readers in the UK, US and beyond.
 
“After meeting families going through similar struggles, I realised I needed to share what I’d learned — to give others tools, humour and hope, and to show they’re not alone,” says Gerry. “World Heart Day is about saving lives through awareness, and I hope my book adds a personal voice to that conversation.”
 
Readers have praised Gerry and her Pacemakers as “a moving and honest account filled with optimism and joy” and “a must-read for families dealing with long-term illness.” Others highlight its mix of raw honesty, humour and clarity in explaining medical concepts in ways families can understand.
 
To mark this milestone, Gerry is encouraging more open conversations about heart health, especially congenital conditions, which affect thousands of children and adults in the UK and worldwide.