A Nantwich teenager has completed a tough trek along the length of Hadrian’s Wall as part of his campaign to raise awareness of heart disease in the young.
Harrison Lunt, from Aston, was joined by his dad Ken for the walk from Newcastle across the country to Solway in Cumbria.
The 90-mile hike took seven days, and they camped in fields throughout the walk which has so far raised around £1,000.
The Brine Leas School pupil’s mum Berny said: “They had a couple of detours due once to roadworks in Newcastle and another time through taking a wrong turn as they had their heads bowed against the rain!
“All in all they walked 90 miles, over seven days, walking between 12 and 16 miles per day.
“They carried their rucksack with all their supplies, and camped in various fields along the route.
“It was quite hard going underfoot. Luckily Harrison’s blisters appeared only on the penultimate day and two blisters became four!”
Harrison, 17, launched his original campaign to provide more life-saving defibrillators at Brine Leas as part of an extended project.
But once this was achieved, it soon gathered momentum as organisations threw their support behind him.
More defibrillators were bought, including in his home village of Aston.
Now he is keen to raise wider awareness of C.R.Y – Cardiac Risk in Young – in memory of another Nantwich teenager Matthew Dewhirst.
Matthew collapsed and died during a rugby training session, and his mum Sue has campaigned to raise funds to stage free heart screening for youngsters in South Cheshire.
Money raised during Harrison’s Hadrian’s Wall challenge will go directly to fund CRY screenings for young people in Crewe and Nantwich.
Harrison has to date raised £985 (£1,223.75p) on his Virgin Money Giving page, although there is still more to come in.
They have received pledges from companies such as Stuart Graham Honda in Crewe.
There are two screening events being held at Brine Leas School in Nantwich on November 7 and 8.
Each screening costs the charity £3,500 to host. For details to book on to these, visit www.testmyheart.org
“Harrison hopes if enough funds can be raised, it might be possible to hold further screening days at Brine Leas next year,” added Berny.
“There was a screening in Northwich last weekend which diagnosed seven people with cardiac conditions who have now been referred on.
“These screenings really do save lives.”
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