? From Heart Scare to Half Marathon: Pirate’s Comeback Story ❤️?‍♂️
Crawley RFC’s very own Dave “Pirate” Taylor isn’t just known for his big tackles and even bigger personality. He’s now taking on the Brighton Half Marathon, not just for the challenge, but to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF)—a cause that hits close to home.

Pirate’s journey to this race hasn’t been smooth sailing. 8 years ago, after a routine 12-mile training run, he sat down for a coffee and felt a dull chest pain. Thinking it was heartburn or maybe a pulled muscle, he brushed it off. By Monday, it was still there. A quick visit to the walk-in centre turned serious fast.

“I told the nurse, ‘I think I might be having a mild heart attack,’” Pirate recalled with his trademark humour. The initial checks looked fine—until the ECG. Within minutes, he was on his back, getting an injection, and blue-lighted to Brighton Royal Hospital. The result? Four stents and a sobering reality check.

But true to form, Pirate’s first question while waiting for surgery was, “Does this mean I can’t do the Brighton Half Marathon?” That earned him a laugh from the medical team, but Pirate wasn’t joking.

Two years of hard work followed, rebuilding his strength for both running and rugby. His first game back with the Bulldogs in Cork, Ireland, ended with a broken ankle—but that’s another story, as he puts it.

Now, Pirate is lacing up for the Brighton Half, proving that setbacks don’t define you—comebacks do. And he’s raising vital funds for the BHF along the way.

? Support Pirate’s run and help fund life-saving heart research: https://gofund.me/46ae840a

Let’s show Pirate the same support he’s shown Crawley RFC for years. Every donation counts! ❤️?‍♂️