Clitheroe man walking 96 miles for boy with heart condition

Lee Harbord and his dog Floss will spend around five days walking the West Highland Way in Scotland, which is around 96 miles long.

They will be setting off on August 7 and will be carrying all of the equipment they need for the hike on their backs.

Lee Harbord and his dog, Floss (Image: Lee Harbord)

Lee, 37, said: “The anxiety is starting to kick in now but I am looking forward to it.”

Lee is hoping to raise around £3,000 for a 'TheRockinR' medical gaming cart, which allows computer games in medical environments, for Alder Hey children's hospital.

His best friend’s son, Ashton Barton, will be able to use the equipment while at the hospital.

Ashton, aged nine, has a complex heart condition called hypo-plastic aortic arch has has undergone numerous heart surgeries.

Lee said: “He needed heart surgery at eight days old, eight months old and again at four-years-old.

“After his second surgery he suffered a stroke and was left with left sided hemiplegia and is in and out of hospital.

“He has just recently been diagnosed with epilepsy to add to the ever growing list of health conditions he has.

“He is due to have open heart surgery again within the next two years.”

Lee said the gaming cart will help Ashton and other children who are receiving treatment.

He said: “Because of his condition he is slow moving and he can’t play football or other sports with other kids as he gets tired easily.

“Over the last few years he has gotten into computer gaming. It keeps his mind occupied and keeps him happy.

“It allows him to be social and game with other people.

Ashton Barton after one of his operations (Image: Family)

“As Ashton grows he is going to be at the hospital more often as he will need more heart surgeries.

"As he grows the stints in his heart will need to be changed to adapt to his body. And possibly more into his adulthood.

“The kids miss out on so much being in hospital and it must be so boring for them to be stuck there.

“The computer will give them something else to think about and take their mind off their recovery.

“I think every hospital needs one of these. I can’t believe they don’t in this day and age.”

Lee said Ashton is a “ray of sunshine” and has coped well with his surgeries and hospital trips.

He said: “He’s a breath of fresh air and a credit to Liam and Sophie, his parents. He’s a joy to be around and a ray of sunshine. He just gets on with life.”

Lee will also be hosting a 10 mile pub walk in order to raise more money for charity. Anyone can take part and it is £10 to enter.

The walk takes place on Saturday, July 29, and starts at The Rose and Crown in Clitheroe, at 10am.

In March members of Ashton’s scout group climbed Pendle Hill in the dark, in order to raise money for a defibrillator.

The defibrillator allows Ashton to continue being an active member of the group.

To donate to the fundraiser click here.