Sunderland soldier's pound-a-mile, 10,000-mile fundraiser off to a great start

Sunderland soldier David Ansell has already been overwhelmed with support, only days into his 1,000-day walking challenge for Cancer Research UK.
By Tony Gillan
Published 20th Jan 2023, 12:03 BST
Updated 20th Jan 2023, 12:03 BST

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David, 48, made the news recently after announcing that he would walk or shuffle, a pace between a walk and a run, 10 miles every day until September 2025 to raise money for the charity, completing a total of 10,000 miles.

Since beginning his gruelling fundraiser, Squadron Sergeant Major Ansell has been stopped by two motorists who spotted him on his daily hike and pulled over so that they could hand him £10 notes.

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Colleagues have given money or made pledges and David’s fundraising total on his JustGiving page is already approaching £500 of his £10,000 target figure.

Squadron Sergeant Major David Ansell and supporters at Chaplin's after he had completed a previous walking challenge in 2021.Squadron Sergeant Major David Ansell and supporters at Chaplin's after he had completed a previous walking challenge in 2021.
Squadron Sergeant Major David Ansell and supporters at Chaplin's after he had completed a previous walking challenge in 2021.

David has already raised more than £18,500 for Cancer Research UK, with a headline grabbing challenge to complete a half marathon every day for 365 days.

He finished his final walk of that campaign in September 2021, after setting off from Fenham Barracks in Newcastle, where he is based, and finishing at Chaplins pub in Sunderland to an appreciative reception cheers from friends and family

He has also completed the Great North Run and the London Marathon for Cancer Research UK.

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David is undertaking the challenge in his own time and will not be taking any days off work.

Ready for the off. Soldier David Ansell at the HQ of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry Reservists.Ready for the off. Soldier David Ansell at the HQ of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry Reservists.
Ready for the off. Soldier David Ansell at the HQ of the Queen’s Own Yeomanry Reservists.

The Squadron Training Warrant Officer, who serves with The Queen’s Own Yeomanry Reservists in Newcastle, has been inspired by his dad, who died of lung cancer in October 2020.

He is further spurred on by the memory of his friend and work colleague Dean Ashworth, who died of oesophageal cancer in October 2020 and family friend Chloe Pescod, who underwent a heart transplant and was later diagnosed with post-transplant lymphoma disorder for which she is receiving treatment.

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David said: “I’m feeling good and my legs are feeling fine. Motivation for me is people cheering me on, saying ‘well done, keep going, you’re doing brilliantly’ and when people come up to me on the street.

“Everyone at work has been brilliant and supportive.”

David is due to finish his latest walking challenge on September 30, 2025. To sponsor him click on to his JustGiving page.

Related topics:SunderlandCancer Research UK