Jeffrey Long MBE - Ex-Para, 91, to walk 40 miles for the Poppy Appeal

VETERAN Yorkshire fundraiser Jeffrey Long MBE is heading out on an epic walking challenge in aid of the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.

He is also planning to raise money for Support Our Paras (The Parachute Regiment and Airborne Forces Charity) during his latest venture.

Last year, Jeffrey, now 91, walked 190 miles to mark the RBL’s centenary, raising £3,500.

The former paratrooper from Bingley, who has single-handedly raised more than £300,000 for charity over the past 15 years, said: “I do have a bad back and an ankle injury from my days as a para, and I cannot walk my usual 15 miles a day average now, pushing myself to average 4 miles due to severe pain from service injuries.

“But nothing will stop me from this latest challenge – it isn’t just about the money, but I want to keep the plight of our Armed Forces community at the forefront of people’s minds, particularly during the current cost of living crisis.”

Great-grandfather Jeffrey, who served 2 years on active service then a Para from 1952-1957, said: "I am very proud of my time as a paratrooper and this is just my way of giving something back, at a time when military charities are more important than ever."

Despite having daily chemotherapy and suffering back pain from a parachute malfunction in 1954 when he was serving with the 12th (Yorkshire) Parachute Battalion, Jeffrey will aim to complete the 40 miles in less than a month.

Jeffrey 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 RBL. Since then, he has completed dozens of charity hikes, including 100 miles along the south coast to support the RBL.