89-year-old Hereford man follows in Captain Tom Moore’s steps

Veteran fundraiser Alan Blake from Hereford has been given some civic support in his marathon project to raise £100,000 for local charities.

The 89-year-old is aiming to complete a 15-mile challenge to raise funds for the parish church of Burghill, Rotary and Parkinson’s – but all without leaving his garden.

He will navigate a circular walk around his steep garden steps 458 times, which will be the equivalent of walking from Hereford to Lyde then Moreton on Lugg, Burghill, Tillington, Stretton Sugwas and back to his family home in Hampton Park.

Alan began his challenge on October 1 and, on Saturday, he gained the backing of Hereford’s first citizen when the Mayor, Councillor Kath Hey, along with Junior Mayor, Theo Ashton joined him on a circuit.