AN 85-year-old man who is aiming to walk a mile for every year of his life before his birthday in December says he is determined to complete it - even if he has to crawl.

When Dr Charles Hanson received a leaflet through his door about the financial difficulties faced by Eden Valley Hospice (EVH) and Jigaw, Cumbria’s Children’s Hospice, he decided he needed to do something to help.

Inspired by Captain Sir Tom Moore’s epic fundraiser for the NHS, Charles worked out that it was exactly 86 days until his 86 birthday on December 29. He has committed to walk at least a mile every day in aid of the Protect Our Local Hospice campaign.

He’s raised more than £6,000 pledged by 70 supporters and is on track to complete the 86 miles a month ahead of schedule.

"Because of lockdown Eden Valley Hospice has lost a lot of its income and needs to quickly raise £100,000," said Charles, who lives in Wetheral, near Carlisle, with his wife Diana, 81.

"I'm very glad to be able to help and I'm really touched by the number of sponsors I have and their generosity.

"I'm telling everybody I'm not asking for the funds until I've done the 86 miles.

"It's essential that I get to that target, even if I have to crawl the last bit."

To date, Charles has generally been blessed with fine weather though he has been caught by the rain and soaked twice.

Thankfully, he's been given a padded, hi-vis jacket by the hospice which reads on the back, "Dr Charles, 86 miles in 86 days before my 86th birthday, in aid of Eden Valley Hospice and Jigsaw."

Charles, a retired economic lecturer at Newcastle University, was encouraged by Sir Tom Moore who he described as "absolutely amazing and an inspiration to us all."

Before the pandemic, Charles walked only occasionally but started to venture out regularly in March when lockdown was imposed, and he has since kept it up.

Today - day 41 - he is already 61 miles in, meaning he is averaging about a mile and a half a day and is on track to complete his challenge at the end of this month.

Like many other charities, EVH and Jigsaw have been devastated by the impact of lockdown, with scores of key fundraising events - including the Carlisle Colour Run and Great North Run - cancelled.

In September, the hospice said it has been forced to consider a small number of redundancies in order to protect and secure the future of its frontline services.

Charles is urging people to show their support, having experienced the "wonderful" work of Marie Curie Hospice in Newcastle, where his first wife Anne was cared for. She died, aged 62, of cancer.

"It's very well-respected. People want to support it and know it's a very good cause," he said.

Stephanie Lacaille-Burton, the charities' head of Marketing and Income Generation, said: “Seeing Charles taking part in his birthday challenge has been inspirational.

"Walking each day in all weathers, each mile he completes goes a great distance in showing support for the hospice and the patients and families who receive care here.

"I know the kindness of his sponsors so far has been of great encouragement to him and it would be wonderful to see further support from the community in helping Charles mark his 86th birthday by completing this fundraising challenge”.

To support Charles' efforts for EVH and Jigsaw call contact the fundraising team on 01228 810801.

Visit www.edenvalleyhospcie.org or www.jigsawhospice.org to donate online and include 'Dr Charles’ Walk’ in the message section to allocate the funds to Charles' challenge.