A veteran fundraiser who has amassed a chain of celebrity admirers with his daring challenges is gearing up for his biggest feat yet - cycling from London to Paris.

Former paratrooper Jeffrey Long, 88, from Bingley, has previously raised £300,000 for charity with stunts such as marching 650 miles from London to Lausanne in Switzerland while carrying a 30kg back pack to raise money for the Royal British Legion in 2007, and hiking along Hadrian’s Wall and the Leeds-Liverpool Canal.

Yorkshire veteran, 88, completes 88-mile walking challenge despite undergoing chemotherapy every dayBut his next challenge will see him swap his walking boots for the saddle and take on his first cycling feat.

In September, he will cycle just over 300 miles in four days from London to Paris to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

Former paratrooper Jeffrey Long, MBE, from Bingley is taking on his latest fundraising challenge. Picture James Hardisty | jpimedia

“This will be my biggest challenge since I have never been a cyclist and never owned a bike,” Mr Long told the Yorkshire Post. “With walking challenges, you can get fit as you go along, but for this, I will have to train for months ahead.”

Mr Long is also planning two other major fundraising challenges for 2020 - a 100-mile walk in support of current paratroopers and the RAF Benevolent Fund, and a blindfolded walk around a football pitch in aid of Blind Veterans.

Veteran Yorkshire fundraiser gets on his bike for new challenge

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