Stroke survivor to ‘scale Everest’ at home to raise money for NHS

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The schoolteacher was just 24 years old when he suffered a stroke Credit: British Heart Foundation

A stroke survivor from Lincolnshire will climb the height of the world’s tallest mountain without leaving his home, to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation and NHS.

Rob Belt will climb up and down his stairs more than 3,300 times – which he calculates is the height of Mount Everest – over one day to raise money for the two good causes.

The schoolteacher was just 24 years old when he suffered a stroke just one week before Christmas in 2017.

“When I found out I had suffered a stroke, I was in shock," said Rob. "I honestly feel that one of the main words I can use to describe this experience is unfortunate. I was very lucky not to have been left with any paralysis or speech problems.”

Rob had keyhole surgery in December 2018, followed by open heart surgery in March 2019 to repair a hole in his heart. Since then, he has been able to live a relatively normal life – and says he owes his life to the care he received in the NHS, along with medical research.

Rob will carry out 3,356 ascents of the stairs at his home to reach an equivalent hike of 29,029 feet – the same height as Everest. He has set himself a fundraising target of £29,029 and will carry out the challenge on Saturday 23rd May 2020. Rob will also be livestreaming the event on Facebook.

Adrian Oke, Area Fundraising Manager for the East Midlands at the BHF, said: “Even in these difficult times, it’s amazing how dedicated supporters like Rob are carrying out inventive challenges to raise funds for the BHF.

“Without the generosity of people like Rob, we wouldn’t be able to fund the ground-breaking research we do to find new ways to prevent, treat and cure heart and circulatory diseases.

“We wish Rob all the best with his challenge and will certainly be cheering him on from our screens!"

Rob will carry out 3,356 ascents of the stairs at his home to reach an equivalent hike of 29,029 feet Credit: British Heart Foundation

In Lincolnshire alone, there are an estimated 150,000 people living with the daily burden of heart and circulatory diseases, with these conditions claiming the lives of around 3,400 people in the county each year.

Anyone who wants to donate to Rob’s challenge can visit https://www.justgiving.com/team/EverestStairNHSBHF