Army man sets out to walk a half marathon every day for a year

David Ansell began his challenge on October 1, just a fortnight before his 71-year-old father, also called David, died after being diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.

He also has a number of friends who are undergoing treatment for the disease, firing him up to help raise as much cash as possible for Cancer Research.

He has set up a Facebook page, 365 half marathon walks in 365 days, so people can follow his story and is inviting others along to join him so loneliness doesn't set in.

A former Household Cavalry member, he is now a Sergeant Major based with the Queen’s Yeomanry in Newcastle.

He is building his walks around his working day, with routes being completed across the North East as he goes about his daily tasks, with routes around South Tyneside and from Newcastle to Sunderland already among those covered.

David, who lives in Sunderland after moving to the region in 2014 and has also worked in the careers section of the Army, is being supported in his efforts by partner Denise Boyers, 50, and a host of friends and workmates.

His dad, who lived in West Yorkshire, was told of his diagnosis as the Covid-19 pandemic began, with the cancer found to have spread to other areas of his body.

Although he underwent treatment, he was unable to beat the illness.

David, 46, said: “I’ve challenged myself to do this every single day, no matter what my day.

"If people would like to join me along on any walks, that would be nice.

"I wanted to do it for Cancer Research, as it’s close to my heart.”

Kathryn Leverett, Cancer Research UK’s local fundraising manager for the North East, said: “We’re so grateful to David for fundraising and this incredible challenge he has set himself.

"With around 16,500 people diagnosed with cancer every year in the North East, we will never stop striving to create new and better treatments. But we can’t do it alone.”

Donation’s to David’s campaign can be pledged via https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-ansell8979.

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