A HEART transplant patient has raised thousands for charity after walking from Winchester to Southampton.

Twyford resident, 50-year-old Robbie Burns walked a total of 13 miles between the two cities, the equivalent to a half marathon in aid of Wessex Heartbeat.

In 1970, he was born with a birth defect called Transposition of the Great Arteries and Ventricular Septal, which meant that the two main arteries carrying blood from his heart, were switched in position.

He underwent two open heart operations as a child but later graduated from the University of Southampton, joining the NHS as a graduate financial management trainee.

However, in 1997 Robbie’s heart issues started to raise concerns and after having countless outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests, procedures and stays at University Hospital Southampton, he was diagnosed with end stage heart failure.

Daily Echo: Robbie and wife, Tamsin on the walk from Winchester to Southampton.

After a challenging year, with continuous IV drug therapy, Robbie was added to the urgent transplant list, later receiving the operation in June last year.

Now though, after struggling with his condition throughout his life, he is giving something to the people who supported him after raising £8,000 through his sponsored walk.

After setting himself the challenge in 2020, Robbie chose Heartbeat House, Wessex Heartbeat’s “home from home” for families of patients at the hospital, as the finish line.

He said: "It’s thanks to the support I’ve had from the cardiac department in Southampton and Wessex Heartbeat, that I’ve been able to complete this special fundraising walk with my wife and fellow supporters.

Robbie was joined by his wife, Tamsin, cardiologists Katrijn Jansen, Peter Cowburn and Aisling Carroll and another 90 walkers for the challenge.

He added: "To be able to complete it with my wife, some of the consultants who have treated me, friends and former colleagues was just the icing on the cake.”

Robbie's fundraising page can be found here.