Artist to release charity song following diagnosis

A young Brighton musician has written a song to raise awareness and money after being diagnosed with a heart condition.

Lukas Villemann-Brabant, who is 25 years old, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in October and received a pacemaker in November.

He started writing his single Things I Never Said, with all proceeds going to Cardiomyopathy UK, a day or two after leaving hospital.

Mr Villemann-Brabant said: "I know how vulnerable and how lonely you can feel when you are sat in a cardiologist’s office and you are surrounded by people who are in their 60s and upwards."

"It’s a very isolating experience,” he added.

Cardiomyopathy is a group of conditions that impact the heart's structure and reduce its ability to pump blood.

Mr Villemann-Brabant, who is known musically as Villemann, said his diagnosis was "heart-breaking".

He said: "You don’t really know what this means and obviously being a young guy you go to Google and you see all these horror stories online and everything that it could mean."

The musician is now a volunteer with Cardiomyopathy UK's youth programme as he aims to connect with other young people with the condition.

The charity's chief executive Joel Rose said: "It's important to realise that cardiomyopathy can affect everyone of all different ages."

He explains that common symptoms include a swollen stomach or ankles, chest pains, and feeling out of breath, dizzy or exhausted.

Mr Rose added: "Cardiomyopathy is often hereditary so it is important that your doctor knows if you have a history of heart problems in your family."

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