New Eltham man raises £2,700 for charity by walking 100 miles non-stop after open heart surgery

A New Eltham man who had open heart surgery last year has completed a 100-mile non-stop walk to raise funds for a heart charity.

Alan Stewart, 72, walked without sleep for 54 hours raising more than £2,700 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

He was motivated to take on the challenge after being diagnosed with a heart valve disease in January 2020.

Mr Stewart, from Charldane Road, first learnt that he had a problem with his heart during a long-distance walk.

He said: “I was walking up a steep hill and I felt like I had no energy. I was really struggling which is unusual for me. I got to the top and I was bent over double trying to catch my breath. I went on a few more miles, but I knew something wasn’t right.

“I went to A&E and after a series of tests they diagnosed me with heart valve disease. The news just came out of the blue as I always thought I was fit. It really shook my confidence. After the diagnosis I was waking up with pains in my chest and I was worried if I going to make it to the morning.”

Aortic stenosis is a disease of the heart valve and restricts the flow of oxygenated blood to the body.

The condition puts an extra strain on the heart as it is required to pump harder to force blood past the diseased valve.

In August last year, Mr Stewart had open heart surgery to replace the faulty valve and one of his coronary arteries.

He said: “Before the operation I was very apprehensive, even scared. It’s a big operation and makes you put your affairs in order.

“My recovery was a long process. After the operation I could not even lift a kettle to make a cup of tea. The first walk I took outside was just to the end of my road, but I had to have long rest before I could make it back home.

“Over the next few months, I gradually built-up my stamina by aiming to walk to the next lamppost. Eventually, I was able to walk around the block. My aim was always to get back to doing the long-distance walking that I love.”

After completing his recovery and restoring his fitness, Mr Stewart decided to take on a 100-mile challenge to raise funds for the BHF.

His route took him from Hastings to Dover along countryside and coastal pathways in Kent and Sussex.

He stopped to rest during the walk, but he did not sleep.

Mr Stewart, who works for an office equipment and IT support company, said: “It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done.

“A friend of mine met up with me to keep me company as I walked through the night. That helped me immensely and kept me motivated and on track, because navigating at night is quite tricky.”

“The reason I persevered was for all the people who had kindly and generously donated to the BHF for my efforts, otherwise I think I would have given up after 70 miles. Apart from the pain there were many brilliant and memorable moments, and I would do it again in heartbeat.”

Karl Coppack, Fundraising Manager for the BHF, said: “I have nothing but admiration for Alan and the dedication and determination he has shown in completing this challenge.

“All the money that he has raised will enable our scientists to keep looking for new ways to prevent, treat, and cure heart and circulatory disease.

“Our research has already given us machines that can restart hearts and the ability to fix arteries in tiny babies. But, despite, this progress, our work remains as urgent as ever and support like this is absolutely vital.”

In the UK, more than 160,000 people die each year from heart and circulatory diseases. The BHF is the UK’s largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Research funded by the charity has contributed to many scientific advances, including medicines to treat heart attacks and pacemaker technology.