A MAN who underwent a life-saving double lung transplant is planning to walk 100 miles to raise money for the hospital charity where he was treated.

Grant Ward, 48, is walking from Winchester to Eastbourne to raise money to support the Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospital Charity.

He is planning to start his journey on April 18 to “get some fresh air” in his “new puffers by walking the South Down Way”.

Grant was born in 1973 with Cystic Fibrosis, an inherited genetic condition, which greatly reduced his life expectancy.

“I know that I am one of the fortunate ones to get this far,” he said.

“In August 2018 I received a life-saving double lung transplant. It has been a few hard years, but things are thankfully looking better.”

Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity funds innovative treatment and research vital to patients’ lives and wellbeing.

“I was in and out of hospital for weeks on end with serious chest infections,” Grant wrote in a blog for the charity.

“My lung function had dropped to a meagre 21 per cent and I needed supplementary oxygen to survive. My health was deteriorating rapidly. Everything had become a challenge. I was put on the lung transplant list.

“There is a lot of fear and worry surrounding the whole transplant procedure, which is fully understandable. At the time I remember being frightened, but I didn’t have any options left. I had to go for it. I was on the waiting list for only six weeks when I got the call. Some people can be on the list for years and others sadly don’t get a match at all.

“On this occasion the donor lungs were not right, but then four days later on August 6, 2018, the call came again. This time it was all systems go and I was taken to theatre for the op. When I came round, the team at Harefield Hospital said my surgery was a textbook success, this sounded promising.

“Four weeks later, with a list of dos and don’ts and a trolley load of medication I was discharged. It felt daunting not being in hospital, especially as I live so far away on the Isle of Wight, but also great that I had made it through.”

A fundraising page created by Grant on Facebook has so far raised close to £1,000, but he is looking to collect more money for the charity.

“These are the guys who gave me my new lungs, my new life and ongoing excellent aftercare.

“They are a great team that goes above and beyond the call of duty. I can't thank them enough. But like all NHS hospitals, they need our help to provide this extra level of care for their patients.

“When I reflect on how bad my breathing had become pre-transplant it brings a tear to my eye.

“I walk every step with a smile on my face, even up hills. Big love to the NHS I wouldn't be here without them.”

If you would like to contribute to Grant’s fundraiser, visit https://www.facebook.com/donate/1022448544975650/