A HEART transplant survivor is taking on the ultimate challenge by walking 4,500 miles around the coastline of Britain to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to help fund lifesaving research. He reached the 3,000-mile landmark this week between Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.

Kieran Sandwell, 45, from Hertfordshire, is currently walking the coastal path in Pembrokeshire. He decided to take on a ‘Trail of Two Hearts’ to mark the end of his long battle with heart disease after having a heart transplant eight years ago.

To celebrate his new lease of life, Kieran has set himself the challenge of raising £20,000 for the BHF by walking the coast of Britain over the next year to help fund even more lifesaving research. After setting off on Wednesday, February 1, 2017, from the BHF office in London, Kieran has now walked 3,000 miles of the UK’s coast. He began walking the coast of Wales at the end of November, but ill health forced him to take a break just before Christmas. Kieran is now back on track and walking around Wales. This week he has been covering Martin’s Haven to Tenby.

There are 375,000 people in Wales living with heart and circulatory disease. Kieran is calling on the people of Wales to support him on his journey by donating to help save even more lives by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ATrailofTwoHearts

Kieran said: “The inspiration for my challenge came to me around 25 years ago, but then it was only something I could dream of because of my health.

“I won’t let the winter weather dampen my spirits and I’m looking forward to meeting some new Welsh friends, who I hope will keep me company along the way, and even teach me a bit of Welsh!

“My second heart has enabled me to do so much and I’m urging the public to help me support the BHF’s ground-breaking research by sponsoring me or walking with me.”

On his journey, Kieran will be met and supported by BHF-funded researchers, fundraising groups and branches and shop staff and volunteers from across Wales.

Adam Fletcher, head of BHF Cymru, said: “We never cease to be amazed by the incredible way our fundraisers raise money for our research, but Kieran’s coastline challenge is without a doubt one of the biggest we’ve ever seen. The BHF fund over £5.9 million of research here in Wales to end the devastation caused by heart disease.

“We are so incredibly grateful for his determination and dedication to supporting our work and hope the Welsh public will support him every step of the way.”

To support Kieran on his journey and find out how you can get involved to help save even more lives visit www.atrailoftwohearts.com