PRESS RELEASE: Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire Mike Kapur OBE becomes Ambassador for HBA Support

PRESS RELEASE

Brain aneurysm survivor and His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur OBE CStJ, has accepted an invitation to become an Ambassador for HBA Support, the UK's first charity dedicated to supporting people affected by brain aneurysms and families with increased or hereditary risk.

Mr Kapur's life changed overnight in 2024 when he survived a ruptured brain aneurysm, a condition that had already taken the lives of two of his close family members. After life-saving treatment and months of rehabilitation, he has returned to full strength and to his duties as Lord-Lieutenant. He now speaks openly about his recovery to bring hope to others facing life after a brain bleed.

Mr Kapur first shared his story publicly on the charity's podcast, Brain Aneurysms & Beyond. Since then, he has taken an active part in the charity's work, joining this year's Hike to Hope fundraising walk in June and the Conkers parkrun in May to help raise awareness of the condition and the charity.

Mike Kapur OBE said: "When you survive something like this, you understand just how precious ordinary life is. I want to use my experience to help other people and their families through it. I know how frightening the early days can be, but with the right support and the right information around you, there really can be a full and happy life on the other side.

I am proud to support HBA Support, a UK charity based in Leicestershire that is making a national impact for families affected by aneurysms. Its work is essential, and I am delighted to contribute to its mission." 

Rebecca Middleton, Founder and Chief Executive of HBA Support. said: “We are so proud to welcome Mike as our Ambassador. He has lived through every part of this, the fear, the loss and the long road back, and he speaks about it with such warmth and honesty.

"His experience brings a powerful voice to our work. Having him alongside us means a great deal. It strengthens our efforts to support more patients and families, and it adds momentum to our mission to improve research and care for every person affected by a brain aneurysm. I am delighted to be working with him as we continue to grow our national impact. "

Around two million people in the UK are living with an unruptured brain aneurysm, and research indicates that one in eight people with an aneurysm has the hereditary form of the condition. Each year around 5,000 aneurysms rupture, causing 1,700 deaths and leaving 2,200 survivors with life-changing disabilities. An estimated 650 ruptures a year could be prevented through cascade screening and timely intervention.

As Ambassador, Mr Kapur will play an important role in championing HBA Support’s mission to support everyone affected by brain aneurysms. His involvement will help raise the charity’s profile, advance its goals of improving recognition, screening, and care, and increase support for patients and families across the UK.

ENDS

Notes to editors

•        HBA Support (Hereditary Brain Aneurysm Support) is a charity registered in England and Wales (1210213), founded by brain aneurysm patient Rebecca Middleton.

•        Mike Kapur OBE CStJ is His Majesty's Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire. His podcast episode is available at www.hbasupport.org/podcast (Episode 6).

•        A full case study telling Mike's story is available on request.

•        Media contact: Nikki Davies, nikki@hbasupport.org

For interviews, expert commentary, or additional information, please contact:

Nikki Davies:

07487 809 316

nikki@hbasupport.org