Yes, I know I have asked before, but this is the first in a while and HEARTS & SOULS is such a deserving good cause who support one of the best free Cardiac Rehabilitation programmes in the country.

I have benefited first hand from this excellent/invaluable/vital/essential (I can't pick the right word) service in 2017 after a heart attack and on another two occasions, at a time where you are left with doubt in your own ability and unsure what life holds going forward.

Rehab gave me the knowledge, belief, confidence and inspiration to go on and make the changes to my lifestyle to be able to even consider challenges like this. So, I wish to return the favour and help those who are now facing that same uncertainty and fear about their own future.

As I have now reached retirement, I decided to mark the occasion with another 'personal' fund-raising challenge to help towards the cause, this will be my first ‘event’ since running the Maidenhead half marathon for H&S in 2020

Since then, I have developed Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (arrhythmia) and now Chronotropic Incompetence (exercise intolerance), so 10K or half marathons might prove a little too difficult.

I have set myself a challenge to walk the 22.8 km (14.2 miles) from Harefield hospital (where I was treated after my heart attack in Dec 2016) to Wycombe hospital (where I attended the rehab), climbing 108 stairs up the tower block to finish in the rehab unit in Ward 4A. Everything I have achieved since can be traced back to these two events.

My grateful thanks go to a team of support walkers who will accompany me on the day including my daughter Kaitlyn.

HEARTS & SOULS is a registered local voluntary run charity based in Wycombe hospital set up in 1997 to raise more than £20,000 a year to help fund the exercise classes, equipment, and specialist training for the award-winning cardiac rehabilitation programme in Buckinghamshire, and to keep it free at the point of use. The charity relies mainly on the generosity of ex-patients to help today’s patients. Following Covid there is a renewed demand on the charity including additional support over the next 2 years to help catch up with a severe backlog of patients caused by the pandemic.

You can find out all about Hearts & Souls at: www.heartsandsouls.org.uk

To read my full story from heart attack to recent events use this link https://peterjemmett.blogspot.com/

Please do support this effort, you never know when you or some-one close might be grateful for their support.

UPDATE 18/04/24:

Following on from my recent angioplasty and a conversation with the cardiac rehab nurse who consulted the cardiologist, I have decided to postpone my walk until such time as I am confident that I can walk the distance. I would like to build up my fitness through some long walks before before revising the date of this challenge. I do still intend to complete this walk and not let down those who have already sponsored me.

UPDATE 06/06/24:

Following the postponement due to a cardiac procedure, I will now be attempting this walk on Saturday 29th June