VETERAN fundraiser Jeffrey Long MBE is undertaking another 100-mile walking challenge despite suffering from a cancer of the blood.

The 88-year-old Bingley former paratrooper, who has raised over £300,000 for charity since the age of 75, was diagnosed with cancer two years ago and has been receiving chemotherapy treatment, but that has not stopped the keen fundraiser from accomplishing his mission.

Jeffrey recently completed the 11-mile RAF Linton-on-Ouse to Nunthorpe Grove, York, to commemorate 75 years since the crash of Halifax LW210.

Then on Thursday Jeffrey finished the second walk in the series, an 18-mile jaunt from Bridlington Lifeboat Station Spa Promenade to Filey, which went via Flamborough.

This new 100-mile walking challenge will support of the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

Jeffrey already completed a similar 100-mile challenge in the summer and even was out walking for his allotted one-hour of exercise a day during lockdown.

When asked how he has overcome adversity and continues to do so many walks at 88 years of age, Jeffrey said: "I just keep going. Once you get hooked on fundraising, you always want to do more. I've been helping people all my life."

Jeffrey's new target for this series of walks is £2,000, and he was keen to help out the RNLI charity, which has saved thousands of lives at sea.

"The biggest boats in the fleet, the Severn class, were launched in 1996," said Jeffrey. "Since that time, they have saved thousands of lives.

"But these boats are in desperate need of a re-fit, so my target is £2,000 because I want to raise enough to refurbish one lifeboat.

"We can't do without lifeboats," said Jeffrey. "I'll walk as my miles as I can to keep the boats afloat and saving lives at sea."

Jeffrey also has a special place in his heart for armed forces charities like the RAF Benevolent Fund, which is why he did last week's walk from RAF Linton-on-Ouse to Nunthorpe Grove in York, a walk organised to remember the Halifax bomber crash on March 5, 1945, that killed six of the crew and five civilians and injured 18 others.

Despite sustaining a back injury in 1954 while serving in the Parachute Regiment, Jeffrey started his charitable challenges when he was 75 and supported the Royal British Legion by walking from London to Lausanne in Switzerland while carrying a 30kg backpack.

He was awarded an MBE in 2010 for his voluntary services.

To make a donation on behalf of Jeffrey, visit https://virginmoneygiving.com/JeffreyLongMBE2