Nairn stroke survivor conquers loch and hill test
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A double stroke survivor who took on a gruelling kayaking and munro bagging challenge has completed the task alongside his twin brother.
Douglas Sewell (63), from Nairn, went river deep and mountain high as part of the Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) Step Up Munro Challenge.
After kayaking across Loch Lochy, in the Great Glen between Inverness and Fort William, Mr Sewell and his brother Bruce spent a night in the wild camp site at the foot of Meall na Teanga. The following day they completed the 3,012ft climb.
Mr Sewell said: “Bruce and I kayaked along Loch Lochy to the foot of Meall na Teanga and climbed the hill the following day.
“It was glorious weather on both days.”
Mr Sewell survived a stroke on a Peruvian mountainside and a second, more serious stroke seven years later, then walked the length of Scotland, all 536 miles, to raise money for Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland.
“We were wearing our Chest Heart Stroke and Scotland T-shirts and we had some decals for our kayaks, which worked well as other hillwalkers and kayakers stopped to ask what we were about.
“This gave me the chance to explain what the charity does and how we support people, so the profile of the charity was raised.”
He continued: “Although the main aim was, primarily, to raise the profile of physical activity we also managed to raise about £300 including Gift Aid.
“I also encouraged other members of my family in the central belt to do their own virtual Munros, get exercise and raise money for CHSS, so a good weekend all round.”
Stuart Brown, physical activity co-ordinator at Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland said: “We have been completely blown away by the efforts put in by our Spring into Summer participants.
“I want to say a well done to all the amazing efforts over the last couple of months. We have just had some incredible stats in and I’m delighted to say that we have recorded that 2854 individual walks were had, 2728 miles were recorded and step counters recorded a whopping 13,533,676 steps.
“And that’s not to mention the several hours of gardening, many miles of cycling and running, countless gym, pilates and physio sessions, tennis, Munro bagging and sea kayaking that have also taken place!
“It’s a wonderful achievement for everyone who took part, and it’s been great to hear all the stories and positive feedback.”
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