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Inspirational Eccles resident living with cancer walks over 500 miles in lockdown

Whilst shielding from COVID-19, one man has walked 500 miles...and will walk 500 more.

InYourArea Community

By InYourArea Community

Submitted by Kieran Howlett

Five-hundred miles is a long way to walk for anyone, but one man with incurable cancer has walked that, and is insisting he will walk even further, to keep fit whilst shielding from coronavirus.

Patrick was diagnosed in 2014 with aggressive prostate cancer which, despite radical surgery, has spread to his hip and pelvis.

The inspirational 69-year-old has walked over 500 miles by strolling circuits upstairs and downstairs in his home, and has said he wants to walk another 500 miles to mark his 70th birthday next month.

Lockdown hasn't just been walking though, he's also been spending time with his wife of 49 years Patricia, who encouraged him to keep fit during the pandemic.

They've been enjoying crosswords, listening to music, reading novels and practising Spanish from their Eccles, Greater Manchester home.

Patrick also volunteers for various local organisations including Manchester Macmillan Supportive and Palliative Care Service.

Patrick said: “Volunteering is a major part of my personal method of coping with my life with cancer, and I find it so rewarding. But, having been deprived by the lockdown of physical interaction with the teams, I needed a daily routine to keep me busy during quarantine.

“Every day I walk around the house until I have clocked up at least 21,000 steps on my Fitbit, or 15 Kilometres. While this takes about 3.5 hours a day, I walk for 2 hours before breakfast while my wife is asleep. I have found this quite easy as I am not easily bored, and I like to think I’m fairly strong-willed.”