‘I feared I wouldn’t survive if I got Covid’

‘In January 2021 I weighed 15 stone and was so unfit I couldn’t walk up the stairs without being out of breath. I feared I wouldn’t survive if I caught Covid. Being a bit of serial slimmer I knew I needed something to motivate me, and I’d just seen one of my friends post on Facebook about #walk1000miles.

‘I never in my wildest dreams thought I could walk 1000 miles in one year, but decided it was something to aim for at least. I started to watch what I was eating and off I went – the dogs so pleased to be getting a longer walkies everyday. Well the weight dropped off and I felt so much better about myself and in myself. So I started being a bit more adventurous and walking some of the lovely hills we’re lucky to have in Shropshire. I was astonished when in early July I walked through the 1000-mile line in a lunchbreak walk of a mile!

‘I’m now four stone lighter, gone from size 20 to size 10, have conquered Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis and I’m getting ever closer to achieving 2000 miles. It feels amazing! This is the most important thing I’ve ever done for myself. My mental health has vastly improved, I’ve learned to love myself again and grown in confidence. I’m just so grateful to Country Walking: although you don’t know me and didn’t know it, your inspiration has helped me more than I could ever describe, and the support of the Facebook group is second to none.’ Dawn Colyer, 42, Telford