Heart transplant patient energised by 110km Sahara trek two years after transplant

A Glasgow man who received a heart transplant in March 2023 completed a more than 110km trek across the Sahara two years later to raise funds for homelessness charity Crisis, and has raised almost £11,500.

A Glasgow bank worker who had a heart transplant in March 2023 completed a Sahara desert trek more than two years later to raise funds for the homelessness charity Crisis. He lives with genetic cardiomyopathy, a condition that affected several members of his family, and had been concerned about how such an endurance challenge might affect his health. The trek took place in Morocco with colleagues from Lloyds Banking Group and lasted several days, and he described feeling energised by the experience. NHS staff involved in Scottish heart transplant care highlighted the ongoing role of donors and clinical teams in enabling patients to resume active lives. Key details: - The patient, aged 48, has genetic cardiomyopathy and underwent a heart transplant in March 2023. - He completed more than 110km of trekking across the Sahara in Morocco over four full days and two half-days with a group of colleagues. - The trek raised nearly £11,500 for the homelessness charity Crisis. - His transplant was carried out by the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital, which has provided Scotland's adult heart transplant service since 2008 and recorded 271 transplants at the hospital. - A family member, his cousin Louise Campbell, also had a heart transplant at the same centre in 2020. Summary: The event underlined the personal impact the patient attributes to his transplant and created opportunities to talk about organ donation and fundraising. Undetermined at this time.