Ex-paratrooper, 91, completes 40-mile walking challenge to raise money for armed forces charities
- Veteran Jeffrey Long MBE has raised £300,000 for charity in the last 15 years
- Mr Long walked 40 miles despite having a back injury and suffering from cancer
- He said he used to walk 15 miles a day but not since being in hospital last year
- The ex-paratrooper said he came out of hospital ‘all wobbly’ and ‘falling a bit’
A 91-year-old ex-paratrooper currently undergoing cancer treatment completed an impressive 40-mile walking challenge to raise money for two armed forces charities.
Veteran Jeffrey Long MBE, who has raised over £300,000 for good causes over the past 15 years, completed the trek on Wednesday morning.
The ex-soldier, who served in the paras from 1952-57, spent two months making steady progress before he crossed the finish line in Bradford city centre, West Yorkshire.
Mr Long said the challenge had been tough given the cold weather, while adding that a back injury from a parachute malfunction in 1954 had hampered his mobility.
eteran Jeffrey Long MBE, who has raised over £300,000 for good causes over the past 15 years, completed a 40-mile trek on Wednesday morning.
Ex-paratrooper Mr Long said the challenge had been tough given the cold weather, while adding that a back injury from a parachute malfunction in 1954 had hampered his mobility
But the great-grandfather, who also has to endure daily chemotherapy sessions, thanked well-wishers, saying he had met some ‘lovely people’ along the way.
He said: ‘This walk has been challenging given the cold weather, and I’m not getting any younger, but in spite of some physical problems I’ve managed to keep going.
‘I have a bad back and an ankle injury from my days as a para, so I’ve had to push myself.
‘I’ve been lucky with the weather, although we’ve had some bitterly cold days, and I have met some lovely, encouraging people and had so much support from motorists driving past.’
Mr Long, who served in the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion, hiked around the hills close to his home in Bingley, West Yorkshire, to clock up the miles for his challenge.
The ex-soldier, who served in the paras from 1952-57, spent two months making steady progress before he crossed the finish line in Bradford city centre, West Yorkshire
The great-grandfather, who also has to endure daily chemotherapy sessions, thanked well-wishers, saying he had met some ‘lovely people’ along the way
But in fact, he began fundraising in 2007 when he marched 650 miles from London to Lausanne in Switzerland, carrying a 30kg backpack, to raise money for the Royal British Legion.
Since then, he has completed dozens of hikes to raise money for the same charity, including a 100 mile walk along the south coast.
Mr Long was appointed MBE in 2010 for his voluntary services, according to GB News.
He told the outlet he normally walks 15 miles a day ‘no problem’, but was rushed into hospital just a year ago and ‘was all wobbly, I don’t know why and I was falling a bit’ when he came out.
Tina Pringle, the Royal British Legion Community fundraising manager, said the pensioner was a ‘remarkable’ person.
Mr Long began fundraising in 2007 when he marched 650 miles from London to Lausanne in Switzerland, carrying a 30kg backpack, to raise money for the Royal British Legion
Mr Long, who served in the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion, hiked around the hills close to his home in Bingley, West Yorkshire, to clock up the miles for his challenge
She said: ‘Jeffrey is one of our most remarkable fundraisers, and we are delighted to have his support.
‘He has dedicated his retirement to raising money for our armed forces community and this has been a fantastic effort. His commitment to our Armed Forces community is second to none.’
Jeffrey’s most recent hike was conducted in support of The Royal British Legion and Support Our Paras (The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity).
Those that wish to donate can do here.
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