COVENTRY great-grandad Tony Cunningham is celebrating success after completing his charity pledge to walk an average of ten miles a day in 2022 more than three months early.
The 72-year-old, who underwent a quadruple heart bypass a few years ago, has so far clocked up 3,650 miles around the city’s War Memorial Park, raising over £6,500 for Molly Ollys in the process.
He has only missed two 6am starts since he started due to illness and has walked the equivalent distance from Coventry to Texas.
And he has set a new target of travelling 5,000 miles by the end of the year while raising as much money as possible.
Tony said: “My biggest highlights so far are meeting three mums in the park who have had cause to be helped by the charity and, just last month, bumping into two nurses at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire who helped me through my operation five years ago, Angie Cummings who worked on ICU and Heidi Seidl who was in the operating theatre.
“It was incredible to see them again – and under very different circumstances.”
Tony is also completing the walk in memory of Jackie, his wife of 47 years who died of cancer last year.
“I feel she is with me in spirit. I think she’d be cheering me on while still telling me I’m mad.
“I think it has surprised a lot of people that I’ve kept it up.”
Molly Ollys was established following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw’s eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare form of kidney cancer.
The charity helps children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, providing emotional support and donating wishes, therapeutic toys and books to youngsters across the UK.
Rachel Ollerenshaw said: “Tony has taken on a huge challenge that should not be underestimated.
“We can easily say “walk 10 miles a day” but with respect at the age of 72 and with various health conditions, through all weathers and alone is incredible.”
