5lakesforbob Challenge
5lakesforbob is a personal challenge for me, and your opportunity to help save people from broken hearts.
Five years ago I suffered six heart attacks in just nine hours. I was lucky – the surgeons saved my life – and when I was discharged from hospital I began a long and tiring journey to recover, to get fit, and to remain fit.
The medical staff told me to walk. They said it would be good for me and my heart. So I changed the habits of a lifetime, gave up the intense and high-pressure job that I had loved, bought a pair of walking books, and took my first steps.
This June, I aim to walk a total of 75 miles over five consecutive days, walking around five different lakes in five different counties in England.
I’m doing it to raise funds for the British Heart Foundation, so it can continue to educate us about avoiding heart disease and to raise funds for vital research.
And I’m doing it in memory of my friend Bob Colley.
I had known Bob for 30 years when I suffered my heart attacks. He had always been a close and loving friend of me and my family, but when my life nearly ended in 2018 he really stepped up, ringing and texting every week for five years, offering support, encouragement and a listening ear.
Bob, who loved walking, died suddenly on June 12th 2023. Whilst out walking, he’d suffered a heart attack, and the surgeons were unable to save him. His death was sudden, shocking, and left his family and his many friends distraught.
So I’m walking 5lakesforbob in his memory and to help develop treatments, find cures and to save lives.
The 5 Lakes
Pugney’s Country Park, Wakefield, West Yorkshire.
Saturday 8th June: Pugney’s Country Park, Wakefield, West Yorkshire. This is the lake closest to my two eldest children’s homes. I’ll walk the route six times – a total of 9.6 miles.
Carsington Water, Ashbourne, Derbyshire
Sunday 9th June: Carsington Water, Ashbourne, Derbyshire. It’s close to my home in Nottingham, and to many of my friends and former colleagues. Once round – 8 miles.
Rutland Water, Rutland.
Monday 10th June: Rutland Water, Rutland. The scene of my youngest daughter’s first marathon run, and a place I love, this is the biggest single challenge – a 22-mile walk.
Grafham Water, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
Tuesday 11th June: Grafham Water, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. I lived close to Grafham for many years and spent many happy days cycling around the place. I’ll walk the circumference twice – 18 miles.
Stanwick Lakes, Northamptonshire.
Wednesday 12th June: Stanwick Lakes, Northamptonshire. Bob was walking around Stanwick Lakes when he suffered his heart attack, and I will finish my challenge on the first anniversary of his death, walking four laps of the lakes – a total of 17.6 miles.
Sponsor me
Joining me
All my family are walking with me at various times during the five days – my wife Ingrid, son Luke, and his wife Lucy, my eldest daughter Beth and her husband Ryan, and my youngest daughter Meg and her husband Chris. All six grandchildren will also be taking part, on bikes, shoulders, or in prams or slings! The youngest will be just weeks old but will put in an appearance at Pugneys!
Friends and former colleagues will also be keeping me company – Paul Coffey and Roger Bannister on the walk around Carsington, Steve Briggs on the marathon jaunt around Rutland.
Bob’s wife Val and many other family members and friends of Bob’s will be joining me on the final leg at Stanwick Lakes for what will be an emotional, but uplifting, final stage.
Want to take part?
Want to join me on one of my walks for Bob?
If you would like to take part and possibly join me on any leg of this five-day challenge, I’d be very happy to see you.
We all walk at different paces, and some will be quicker than others; what matters is the taking part and raising money, and completing a walk at a pace that is right for you.
If you’d like to be part of this and to help raise money through my Just Giving page, please message me via Instagram – @5lakesforbob – or at matt@matttapp.com.
I’ll be updating this site with the times I plan to start each leg of the walk, so keep an eye out, and I look forward to seeing you!
