Man's 37-mile trek after regaining ability to walk

A man who is set to trek 37 miles (59.5km) after previously being left unable to walk by a spinal injury says he has "had a lot of fun" preparing for the challenge.

Glenn Meyer, 66, from Caterham, Surrey, was left needing to use a wheelchair for nearly three years after popping three discs in his back while stretching out on a sun lounger in his garden in September 2020.

Meyer is now set to complete the three-day "walk back to happiness" from his home to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital (RNOH) in Stanmore in order to thank the surgeons who helped him regain his ability to walk.

Ahead of setting off on Tuesday, he said: "We have had a lot of fun doing all of the hard work training."

Meyer said: "We did a trial run over Easter where we walked the route over three days.

"We have a little way to go but I think it's achievable."

Meyer said he suffered the injury to his back due to a previously undiagnosed spinal condition, later requiring surgery in October 2023 to insert a titanium frame around his spine.

Following the operation Meyer said he set himself the goal of walking from his home to his local pub to order a pint before Christmas Day, 2023 and achieved the feat a few days prior.

Meyer's walk starts on Tuesday and will take place over the course of three days, ending at the hospital on Thursday.

So far Meyer says he has raised around £9,000 for the RNOH, and hopes to hit his target of £10,000.

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