Inspirational visit to our British Heart Foundation store

The British Heart Foundation branch on the high street in Lowestoft had a special visitor this morning and Discover Lowestoft had an invite.

Kieran Sandwell was born with a heart defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), and had open heart surgery when he was just 3 years old. He then had a heart attack at 13, mini strokes aged 21, a defibrillator fitted aged 35 and then finally and successfully, a heart transplant at the age of 38.

It has been 7 years since his heart transplant and is now raising money for the British Heart Foundation by walking the coasts of the entire country.

On his website Kieran says "On 1st of Febuary 2017, I set off from BHF offices in London and I am walking anti-clockwise around the coast of Britain. Averaging 15 miles a day this challenge will take me 326 days and I will walk 5000 miles. To put this in perspective, it is the equivalent of walking from London to Calcutta and the elevation equivalent of climbing Mount Everest 12 times. (gulp!)"

"My second life has now lasted 7 healthy years thanks to a heart transplant in July 2009. I decided to donate my heart for British Heart Foundation funded research. I recently visited my old heart to say hello."

Kieran's Journey today started at Southwold and will end in Great Yarmouth, he arrived in Lowestoft at 11am.

The staff at the Lowestoft branch welcomed Kieran with warm and cold drinks and a supply of well deserved biscuits and cakes!

Shao-lin Chambers who is assistant manager of the branch said "He is such an inspiration, it was brilliant to have Kieran at our Branch in Lowestoft. Hopefully he will inspire others to do similar challenges. We wish him well in his amazing journey"

Kieran stayed within the store for around an hour before setting off on foot again. Discover Lowestoft of course gave him some tips on our beautiful coast and told him to head to Ness Point and to take a photo once there!

Kieran will complete today's journey in Great Yarmouth, walking along Corton, Hopton and Gorleston, so if you see him give him a wave of support.

You can follow Kieran's incredible Journey on his facebook page or his website.

What an Inspiration!