Postman Nick plans to roller skate from Scotland for charity

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Postman Nick Hacket plans to roller skate from Scotland to Wales for charity

http://www.thisiscroydontoday.co.uk/new ... ticle.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

POSTMAN Nick Hackett has never roller skated in his life.

But the inspirational 36-year-old, who "died twice" after suffering a series of strokes and a brain aneurysm and underwent a mechanical heart valve replacement, is preparing to don skates for a fundraising challenge – rollerskating from Scotland to Wales.

Seven years on and back to full health, he has run and cycled for hundreds of miles to raise money for various charities – and now he is raising the bar to new heights.

Nick, from Shirley, has vowed to step into a pair of skates in support of the children's charity Barnardo's.
Stay one step ahead of the weather

He said: "I started doing things like this when I got out of hospital to keep fit and give something back to the people who saved my life.

"I'd never been in hospital before and what I thought was just a long-running cold turned out to be a misshapen heart valve I'd had all my life.

"I was actually dead twice so I'm really lucky to be alive."

Nick's colleague Dee Hogan is a member of the Croydon Roller Derby, a high-octane, all-female sports team.

He is still planning the details of his skating mission but hopes to start off in Scotland and finish in Wales within two weeks.

Nick, of Chaffinch Avenue, added: "Dee suggested I do something on skates.

"My first thought was 'I can't skate', but then I thought 'why not learn, I've got time'.

"I'll be doing this on my own though because I don't think anyone is mad enough to do it with me.

"I've done lots of 10k runs, they're easy, and I'm quite athletic so I think I'll be alright."

Nick, who is based at the sorting office in East Croydon, but also does rounds in Waddon and West Croydon, is saving up to buy his first pair of skates so he can start training.

However, being a shoe size 14, he has found it impossible to borrow any that fit from the male referees on Dee's team.

He said: "I'll plan to do it the next chance I get to take off two weeks from work.

"The Post Office's charity of the year is Barnardo's so if I donate all the money I make to them hopefully I'll get more paid time off to do it."