AN intrepid 89-year-old Bingley fundraiser was given a civic send-off as he started his latest charity walk.

Jeffrey Long set off from Bradford’s City Hall in today’s wet weather to walk 190 miles in aid of two armed forces charities; The Royal British Legion and Support Our Paras, The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity.

To complete the fundraising feat, Mr Long, who is classed as vulnerable, will walk up and down the hills around his home town of Bingley due to the current lockdown restrictions.

He said: “I’m going to be out walking whatever the weather.

“This might be even more of a challenge when then weather is bad.

“I’m used to walking in all sorts of weather.

“I’m restricted by how long I can be out every day, so it might take me 63 days. But if restrictions are lifted, I’m hoping to go out walking for 15 miles a day.

“I’m getting ready after this for my next charity event, a dinner at the Midland Hotel in Bradford. It will be held on October 23, the day after my 90th birthday.

“I am classed as vulnerable which restricts how much I can do and how much time I can spend out of the house but I am hoping to complete the 190 miles over two months.”

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Jeffrey Long sets off from Bradford's City Park for his latest fundraising feat Jeffrey Long sets off from Bradford's City Park for his latest fundraising feat

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Doreen Lee, was there at City Hall today to send Mr Long on his way.

She said: “It is great that Jeffrey gets to combine his love of walking and keeping active with raising money for some great causes. I wish him well on his walk and hope he manages to raise lots of money.”

He has raised £740 to date so far towards his £1,000 fundraising target for his latest challenge.

The former paratrooper will looking to add to his impressive fundraising tally to date of more than £300,000 for charity over the past 14 years and attracted celebrity endorsement along the way.

Great-grandfather Jeffrey, who served with the Paras from 1952-1957, will walk a total of 190 miles – 100 for the Legion to mark their centenary in 2021, plus a further 90 for Support Our Paras.

Mr Long began his fundraising feats 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 charity hikes, including 100 miles along the south coast to support the Legion.

His fundraising efforts went viral in 2017 when comedians Jason Manford and Iain Lee used social media followers to swell Jeffrey’s JustGiving page from less than £500 to more than £120,000 in aid of the RBL.

Natalie Urbaniak, fundraising and communications manager for Support Our Paras, said: “It’s wonderful to have Jeffrey supporting us and his Airborne brothers once again this year.

“Despite sustaining a back injury from a parachute malfunction in 1954 when he was serving with the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion, Jeffrey has proven that he is still ‘ready for anything’ all these years later.

“He has overcome a lot with his health in recent years but is determined to carry on with his fundraising walks to help those in need, and we cannot wait to cheer him on along the way.”

Go to uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JeffreyLongMBE to donate.