Bernard puts heart into Himalayas trek

BERNARD BROWN

A ROYTON walker is heading for Nepal to trek from Kathmandu to the Everest base camp.

Bernard Brown (61), of Beechwood Drive, will be braving oxygen deprivation and night-time temperatures of minus-10C to raise at least £3,200 for the British Heart Foundation.
He said: “I’ve wanted to take on a challenge like this for a long time, so when I got some literature through my door about an Everest trek, I thought I’d go for it.”

A keen walker since his teenage years, Bernard is a member of two walking groups. He walks an average of 10 miles a week, but is planning to increase that to 20 as he prepares for the 13-day, 66-mile trek next March.

He said: “The air is extremely thin up there, with Kathmandu standing 8,000ft above sea level and the base camp of Everest going up to 17,000ft.

“Many people get ill at those heights and it’s impossible to know how you’re gong to react.

“ The only way you can prepare yourself is to simply do lots of exercise, seeking out hills and increasing your speed. So I’ll be doing lots of power walks in Tandle Hills over the coming months.”

Bernard has turned his trek into a wider mission to encourage Oldhamers to adopt healthier lifestyles.

Last week, figures revealed the borough has England’s fourth-highest death rate from heart attacks and strokes.

He said: “I’ve become steadily more passionate about the British Heart Foundation as I’ve gone along and I’m now doing this trek as much to raise the profile of the charity, as to raise money for it.

“Since heart disease is one the biggest killers in our country, the BHF is likely to play an important part in people’s lives and is well worth supporting.”

Bernard, who is funding the trip himself, is spearheading a campaign to generate support and to give advice to Oldhamers about how they can reduce their chances of developing heart problems.

Anyone who would like to help Bernard reach his target of £3,200 can contact him on 0161-345 7223.