Two beauty therapists who cemented their 31-year friendship through a love of walking after one of them suffered a terrifying heart attack are now trekking the 874-mile length of the UK in their local park to clear away their daily worries and boost their health. After meeting at neighbouring salons 31 years ago, hairdresser Michele Evans, 56 and beautician Shana Lace, 48, both from Barnet in north London, were a match made in heaven.
But when Michele suffered a heart attack in April 2022, Shana was terrified for her friend and vowed to help her recover. Using a stopwatch and their local park, Shana, who herself suffers with arthritis and fibromyalgia, motivated her friend to walk every day – and in just eight weeks, Michele astounded her doctors with her recovery.
Sharing conversation on their walks, they have now nicknamed themselves the Walkie Talkies and in January this year they began walking the length of the UK in their local park using the walking app WeWard. They have found that their walking friendship not only eased their health conditions but became a powerful therapy, transforming their mental health.
“We average walking five times a week,” said Shana. “We’ve walked 100 miles so far. The most we’ve managed to walk in one session is six miles, but that was hard going.
“It started completely naturally just to boost our fitness after Michele’s heart attack. But it’s really helped us and boosted our mental health.
“I was really worried about Michele, it scared me. But it’s been amazing for both of us, being able to talk to each other – if you’re feeling down you need to get a walking buddy.”
The glamorous twosome met at neighbouring salons 31 years ago in Kentish Town, London, after then 17-year-old Shana started work at Top to Toe next door to Hair Today, the hairdresser Michele ran.
“I was eight years older… we just became really good friends and then when I moved down the road from Shana we started seeing each other all the time,” explained Michele, who lives with her partner Michael, 58.
But when Michele suffered a devastating heart attack on April 6 2022, the pair were terrified. “It came from nowhere,” she said.
“I’d suffered a bit with high blood pressure. So I think it was to do with that. But all of a sudden I felt a pain and it was a heart attack. I was in disbelief.
“The actual heart attack was very short, once it was over, it was over. But I was in hospital for a few days.”
When Michele returned home her best friend Shana was on hand to help with her recovery. “I had to do my cardiac aftercare at home because of Covid,” said Michele.
“I had to walk and then speed it up for a little bit to get my heart rate going but I really needed some help. Shana rang me a lot after the heart attack so she said that she would come with me for my walk.”
Shana said she was scared by Michele’s health scare and was determined to get her friend shipshape. “I just said we have to do something about this and I started going walking with her to keep her motivated and on track,” said Shana.
Using just a stopwatch and their local park, Shana was joined by her 16-year-old daughter Tanya for their walks, and was determined to help Michele. “They set me out on a mission of doing three minutes’ fast walking and then 10 minutes’ slow down,” said Michele.
“Shana’s daughter, Tanya, had a stopwatch. We’d do it maybe three or four times a week. And then the hospital rang me every week, and they upped the timing.
“I wouldn’t have done it without them. I also have a lung condition, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or COPD, which makes me feel breathless and after my heart attack I could barely walk. I needed a walking buddy and that’s how it all started.”
Just eight weeks later Michele shocked doctors with her recovery. “When I went back for the check the hospital were amazed,” said Michele. “I was doing really well and I could walk an extra 10 metres, which was brilliant.”
So in January 2023 the dynamic duo decided to walk the length of the UK, 874 miles, in their local park using walking rewards app WeWard as motivation.
“I think it was around New Year’s Eve that Shana suggested we walk the Land’s End to John O’Groats challenge,” said Michele.
“At first I thought I can’t do that, but by January we decided to try it. We got the app, WeWard, to motivate us and count our steps.
“You get rewards for walking, like discounts on shopping. The more you walk the bigger the rewards. It’s going to take us a year at least to do, then we’ll save up the rewards for shopping or buy something big.
“We’ve just completed five consecutive days which is brilliant. We go out in all weathers, the only time we don’t is if it snows.”
Nicknaming themselves the Walkie Talkies, the pair have already walked an amazing 100 miles in just one month, and are determined to not only complete their walk but also walk back home again. “We have a great time,” said Michele.
“We wear hats with lights on as we always walk in the evening and also have torches. It’s really fun, but we do have loud laughs. I think we sometimes scare people walking around!
“I think we’ll also do the walk back, as we’ve got to get back home! It’s just become part of our routine and we love spending time together.”
Though both Michele and Shana did not realise the real highlight would be the positive effect on their mental health. “It’s actually been really good for both of us,” said Shana, who suffers with arthritis and fibromyalgia.
“It is like counselling each other. In our jobs you counsel a lot of people, you help people through divorces, break-ups, cancer scares, all sorts of illnesses and deaths. It can be really draining. When you’ve been working for 30 years you do take on your clients’ sadness because you’ve known them so long. You do go home and think about it.
“But Michele and I, we help each other. If I have an issue or she does we talk about it together.”
