A MAN born with a heart defect is walking around the country to raise cash for the British Heart Foundation.

Kieran Sandwell, 46, lived in Stanford-le-Hope for 26 years and is now taking on this incredible fundraising adventure for the charity.

He had a heart transplant seven-and-a-half years ago as he was born with transposition of the great arteries, a condition where the two main blood vessels leaving the heart, the pulmonary artery and the aorta, are swapped over.

The computer analyst is aiming to raise £100,000 by completing the challenge and thinks he will be able to reach the target.

He said: “On Wednesday, seven-and-a-half years after my heart transplant, I will be setting off from London to walk 5,000 miles anti-clock - wise around the coastline of Britain. After years of struggling with heart failure, I had a heart transplant in July 2009 which changed my life completely.

“The walk will take me 326 days, averaging 15 miles per day and I will pass through Thurrock on the journey.”

Mr Sandwell will be holding events along the way to help with the fundraising, including a pub quiz at the Dog And Partridge, in  Brentwood Road, Orsett, at 7.30pm on Thursday, February 2. 

He said he has a planned route, which he has downloaded onto both mobile phones he will be taking with him, Mr Sandwell added: “I have not done anything like this before but have been training and it seems to be going quite well so far.

“I will be in contact with the charity at all times so that they can send help if needed at any time.”

To donate, visit www.atrailoftwohearts.com