Kieran Sandwell, 45, from Hertfordshire, is taking on the challenge, called “Trail of Two Hearts”, to mark the end of his long battle with heart disease after having a heart transplant eight years ago.  Berghaus has supplied Kieran with some of its latest kit and invited him in to meet the team as he passed through the North East.

After setting off on Wednesday 1 February from the British Heart Foundation office in London, Kieran Sandwell’s journey has so far taken him over 500 miles, as he has made his way up the east coast of England.  He was welcomed to Berghaus’ global HQ in Sunderland by the company’s brand president, Richard Leedham.  After meeting members of the team, Kieran was given a tour of the building and an insight into how the company developed some of the gear that he is using on his walk, including the new Hillwalker GORE-TEX® jacket that has been keeping him dry since February.

Berghaus brand president Richard Leedham Kieran Sandwell and Nikki Bell of the British Heart Foundation

Kieran Sandwell is calling on the public to support him on his journey by helping him raise £100,000 for the BHF’s life saving research, and bringing new hope to the seven million people like him living with heart and circulatory disease in the UK.  In Tyne & Wear where Berghaus is based, over 136,000 people are living with heart and circulatory disease.  You can sponsor Kieran by visiting www.atrailoftwohearts.com and read the interview he gave to the Berghaus website here.

Kieran Sandwell comments: “It was great to meet the team at Berghaus.  The kit that they design has proved to be invaluable during my walk and with Such a long way still to go, it’s going to get a great deal of use as I continue.  Walking is such a brilliant way to maintain a healthy heart, so it’s really good that Berghaus is supporting my challenge and I was very pleased to hear about some of the fundraising that the company has already done for the British Heart Foundation, through events such as Valentine’s Day coffee mornings.”

Richard Leedham, Berghaus brand president, adds: “We really enjoyed meeting Kieran and hearing his inspirational story.  Berghaus has worked with some of the world’s greatest adventurers over the last 50 years and in the context of what Kieran has had to deal with in his life, his challenge bears comparison to many of their achievements.  We will be following Kieran’s progress keenly and hope that he completes his epic walk and raises a huge total for the British Heart Foundation.”

Kieran Sandwell’s battle with heart disease began when he was just three years old, when he had to have open heart surgery to correct a condition called transposition of the great arteries (TGA) where the main arteries in the heart are ‘plumbed’ back to front.  Then, when Kieran was 13, he suffered a heart attack and during his early twenties he also suffered two mini strokes and began having abnormal heart rhythms.  By the time he reached 35, he was in heart failure and he was put on the transplant list for a new heart.

Kieran Sandwell takes the weight off his feet in the reception area at Berghaus

In July 2009, Kieran received his new heart and donated his old heart for BHF-funded research into congenital heart disease which has contributed to important findings and helped others living with conditions like his.  Now the money he raises on this incredible journey around Britain will help fund even more life-saving research.

Nikki Bell, BHF Fundraising Manager for Northumberland and Tyne & Wear, said: “We never cease to be amazed by the incredible way our fundraisers raise money for our research, but Kieran’s coastline challenge is one of the biggest we’ve ever seen. 

“We are so incredibly grateful for his determination and dedication to supporting our work and we’ll be supporting him every step of the way!

“Every three minutes someone in the UK loses their life to heart and circulatory disease, which devastates the lives of those they leave behind.  We urgently need more people to join our fight for every heartbeat and help fund our life-saving research, so if Kieran has inspired you please do help power his steps and donate!”

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