More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
A man is bidding to become the first transplant athlete to complete the epic journey from Land's End to John O'Groats.
Ryan Brett, from Rainham, is currently six days into his 17-day mammoth trek across the UK where he will average 50 miles per day.
He is raising money for Transplant Sport UK – a charity which raises awareness of the need for organ donation and using sport as a way to improve health and wellbeing for post transplant patients.
Ryan, who underwent a kidney transplant in 2015, is taking on the 850-mile challenge between the most southwestern and northeastern points in the UK.
Setting off from Hereford this morning, Ryan says he will end today's trek in Shrewsbury as he makes his way up through the country.
Posting on his Facebook page at 11.30am he said the gruelling task has been taking its mental toll on him today.
"This is so hard, to do it on your own as well.
"It's not a physical thing, physically I can do it. I've got a few aches but mentally there are lows and I'm getting in a right rut.
"A mile just feels so long and I've got another 29 to do. I'm just going to walk to Shrewsbury."
He will be spending 12 hours every day on the road.
So far, he has raised £1,103 and says he's doing the challenge to inspire his son and other children.
He says he wants to complete it to send a message that they can "push themselves to achieve what they think is the unachievable and to believe they can do or be anything".
"The other reason is to test myself both physically and mentally to see what I can do. I was given a second chance and my God I'm not going to waste it," he told supporters on his JustGiving page.
Ryan had planned to take it on last year but pushed the challenge back due to Covid but returning this year has made him "more determined than ever".
"I will be fundraising for Transplant Sport kids and teens because all children have been hit hard this last year especially ones that have had to shield so all the money will go towards setting up family events for them and other ways to support them," Ryan added.
During the fifth day leg yesterday, he was joined by friends Lisa and Stuart Landers who travelled from Kent to support him.
Lisa said she was proud of Ryan for taking on the challenge and wanted to share his "fantastic story" with the community.
Ryan has previously climbed Mount Kilimanjaro pushing himself to extremes and competed in the British Transplant Games.
