'Made the city proud' - Sunderland's congratulations for binman Deano after multiple 2.6 challenge victory

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A Sunderland binman who carried out seven consecutive charity challenges has been branded a “legend” by the local community.

Deano Franciosy runs with a wheelie bin on his back for donations – and has been taking part in the 2.6 challenge, a charity fundraising initiative.

He was due to take place in last week’s London Marathon, which was postponed due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but instead did back-to-back challenges for NHS Charities Together and St Oswald’s Hospice.

Friends and neighbours were full of praise for the 51-year-old’s hard work.

Here are some of your messages for Deano from the Sunderland Echo Facebook page:

Ivor Prestwood: “Well done Deano, salt of the earth and one of Sunderland’s biggest contributors to charities. And, a lovely character.”

Norma Robinson: “Always been a lovely lad Deano & always there to help charity well done bonny lad.”

Kelly Walker: “My binman. Out emptying bins in Grindon Friday morning. A few hours later he was over the road with his petrol lawnmower cutting the old lady’s garden over the road from me. What a gent, well done.”

Scott Gibson: “Always done well for charity well done my fellow Pennyweller, class Deano keep it up mate.”

Binman Deano completes the 2.6 challenge seven days in a row, with a wheelie bin...

Lesley Etherington: “Brilliant. Generous and a genuinely nice guy.”

Sheila French: “Well done Deano from all at Queens Cafe.”

Colin Hilton: “Top bloke well done Dean.”

Micky Stewart: “Well done Deano, you’re class.”

Fox Stewart Brian Purvis: “Well done Deano made the city proud.”

Mel Kaya: “Our bin man, he’s the best. Well done.”

Jonathan Martin: “What a legend.”

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'Made the city proud' - Sunderland's congratulations for binman Deano after multiple 2.6 challenge victory

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.

But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

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