VETERAN Yorkshire fundraiser Jeffrey Long MBE - Ex-Para, 92 years old, is heading out on an epic walking challenge to walk 101 laps of Bradfords Centenary Square over the next few weeks, supporting Bradford Hospitals Charity Big Neonatal Appeal.

Jeffrey Long MBE 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 – I want to support the Big Neonatal Appeal as four of my Grandchildren were cared for by Bradford Hospitals Neonatal Unit. This is a cause close to my heart.

Great-grandfather Jeffrey, served 2 years on active service then a Para from 1952-1957.

Despite now walking with a stick 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 101 laps in less than a month.

Jeffrey Long MBE began fundraising in 2007 when he marched 650 miles from London to Lausanne in Switzerland, carrying a 30kg backpack. Since then, he has completed dozens of charity hikes, including 100 miles along the south coast.

Parents often have to travel long distances each day, sometimes for weeks or months at a time, just to visit their baby in hospital.

Many families stay in hotel rooms or sleep on a chair at their child's bedside. This leads to exhaustion and increasing levels of anxiety and stress. One of the aims of the Big Appeal is to extend the current family accommodation to ensure more parents can be near their babies. We want to make sure parents have comfortable places to stay overnight while they are close to their child. With a place to rest away from the ward, parents are better equipped to support their child.

How your donation can help

Our Neonatal Unit provides intensive treatment for pre-term and poorly babies. This is a specialist regional centre, caring for more than 500 of our tiniest patients each year. Your donations will help make this extension become a reality.