19-05-2025
Glasgow man who had heart transplant to trek Sahara Desert
Fraser Wilson, 48, from Glasgow, was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy at the age of 14 – a condition that eventually led to heart failure.
The illness is genetic, having already sadly claimed the lives of his mother.
In 2018, Fraser had an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) fitted by the Scottish National Advanced Heart Failure Service (SNAHFS) team at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital.
As his condition worsened, he eventually received a heart transplant at NHS Golden Jubilee — a procedure that has given him a new lease of life.
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(Image: NHS Golden Jubilee)
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Now, the bank worker is set to trek 100km across southern Morocco over four and a half days, alongside 90 of his colleagues.
Fraser said: "I wanted to prove to myself that after having a heart transplant, three years later, I can do anything.
"I feel better than ever and grateful for having the opportunity of a heart transplant and the benefit to me has been life-changing, waking up every day with this amazing perspective in life because you're just grateful for still being here.
'You honestly want to start grabbing opportunities as they arise."
He has been training rigorously for the trek, including personal sessions at the gym and completing the 14-mile Kiltwalk at the end of April.
Fraser is also a member of the Glasgow Adult Transplant Sports Team and regularly competes in the British Transplant Games.
He said: "The Glasgow Adult Transplant Sports Team is a relatively small team.
"Everyone is part of the committee and we're joining with around 3,000 competitors at the British Transplant Games in Oxford later this year.
"Being part of the team and the games provides a level of comfort and knowledge that you don't have, like non-transplanted people, so it feels like quite an exclusive group that you're a part of, as well as having that ongoing contact with people with the same experience as you.
'And it's not all about your transplant, we enjoy ourselves and have a lot of fun.'
Fraser has set a personal fundraising target of £4,000 for his Sahara trek and is also exploring other ways to raise additional funds for the charity Crisis.
Jane Lockhart, transplant co-ordinator at NHS Golden Jubilee, said: "Being able to look after our patients, like Fraser, and see how their lives improve after a transplant is an absolute privilege for our team.
"Fraser's journey highlights the importance of organ donation and shows just how lives can not only be saved but transformed as well.
"We'd like to wish Fraser and his colleagues all the best in this amazing adventure.'
