A MAN who trekked along the Great Wall of China for charity last week returned home to a hero’s welcome.

Adrian Stewart, 32, from Greenmeadow, described the experience as “life-changing”, claiming to have acquired a new perspective on life.

“It was an amazing experience,” he said. “China is fantastic.”

A couple of years ago, Adrian was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes after weighing in at 27 stone.

For that reason he decided to raise money for Diabetes UK and thought walking the Great Wall the perfect way to do it.

The IT technician said: “I have never been a confident person, always shy around people. I took up the challenge to raise money for charity, but also as a way to build my confidence.”

He and a group of around 15 others met at Heathrow Airport in early April and took the 10 hour flight to the Orient.

Adrian said: “There were lots of other people from all over the UK all raising money for different charities.

“When we arrived in China, it was a huge culture shock at first – but in a good way.

“We stayed in basic lodgings on the first night, but it was a fantastic place because it gave us a good taste of Chinese culture right from the start.

“I met so many nice people and the locals made us feel very welcome.”

But not long after unpacking and settling in, it was soon time for Adrian and the team to tackle one of the Wonders of the World.

“The Great Wall itself was stunning,” he said.

“A lot of the downhill sections were very difficult, especially as you were slipping and sliding around a lot.

“The first part of the walk was very crowded as there were a lot of people along a very small section of wall.

“But there was a huge sense of achievement when you reached the highest point and looked across at the view, it was absolutely beautiful. The pictures I took don’t even begin to tell the full story.

“It was a bit scaring because there’s nothing stopping you from falling off the wall.

“I had a few stumbles and got some bruises, but there was nothing to worry about.”

Describing the feeling of seeing family members waiting to greet him back at Heathrow, Adrian said: “It was really heart-warming to see everyone – it was quite emotional.

“Overall, the trip has given me a new perspective on life and made me want to do more for other people.”