Sheffield Wednesday fan walks 125-mile for charity after 6-month-old daughter's open heart surgery
A Sheffield dad who described watching his baby daughter go into open-heart surgery as the “worst day of my life” has raised more than £4,000 after completing a punishing 125-mile walk
A Sheffield Wednesday supporter has raised more than £4,000 for charity after completing a gruelling 125-mile walk to give back after his 6-month-old baby girl went through open heart surgery.
Nick Buckley, a lifelong Owls fan, was joined by mates from both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United throughout the five-day trek from Middlesbrough to Sheffield, as he pushed himself to the limit for the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund.
He organised the walk to give back to the charity that supported him as his 6-month-old baby girl, Harper, went through open heart surgery.
“Watching my six-month-old go into surgery was the worst day of my life, without debate. It was awful,” he said.
“The four or five hours waiting were awful too, and seeing her in ICU… but then knowing she was better and no longer in danger was an incredible feeling.”
Now two-years-old, little Harper is thriving.
“You wouldn’t even know she’d been through it if it wasn’t for the scar - and she’s proud of it, she shows it off to everyone,” he said.
“It completely changed her outcome.”
Nick, from Mosborough says the charity supported his family through the ordeal, helping them stay in Leeds and cope during months of uncertainty.
“Luckily, Harper can’t remember it all as she was very young, but it was a real struggle for mine and my partners mental health, and they supported us the whole time,” he said.
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Determined to give back, he set out on his second 125-mile walk.
His walk last year set out on April 23, and arrived in Watford just in time for a Sheffield Wednesday game on May 3.
“Last year I did it in seven days, this year I did it in five - I wanted to make it more of a challenge and raise more funds for a cause that means a lot,” he said.
The route tested him physically and mentally, particularly on day two.
“We were walking 7.5 miles of straight road towards York, past fields that felt like they went on forever,” he said.
“I had friends joining me each day - at one point there were seven of them ahead of me, and I could only see them as tiny specks. I was really struggling and so far behind.
“But I just pushed through. We stopped at a pub for food and a drink, and then I was ready to go again.”
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Having learned from last year’s challenge, he said staying on top of food and hydration made a difference but the motivation came from something deeper.
“You never think it’s going to be you,” he said.
“It’s made me realise how precious everything is.”
“When Harper was born, we had no idea she had a heart defect,” Nick said.
“Doctors heard a slight murmur and weren’t too concerned at first, but it turned out to be a big hole. At eight months, she needed open-heart surgery.”
The walk has now raised more than £4,000.
“If it means another family can be supported going through that, that would make me very happy,” he added.