Submitted by Combat Stress

An octogenarian who has spent the last two years battling leg operations and injuries has raised over £5,000 for two local charities after walking 30 miles.

Leslie Clarke, 86, walked a three-mile circuit of Normandy, Surrey, 10 times on Saturday August 29 in support of Step by Step, a youth homelessness charity based in Aldershot, Hampshire, and in support of Combat Stress, a charity based in Leatherhead that supports former servicemen and women with issues such as PTSD and is UK’s leading veterans’ mental health charity.

Mr Clarke, who recently spent two years undergoing a series of ankle operations before suffering a separate serious leg injury, undertook the sponsored walk to commemorate reaching his 86th birthday.

Speaking to charity Combat Stress, Leslie said: “After all the injuries and nearly losing my right leg, to be able to complete a challenge like this - and for such good causes - is absolutely fabulous.

“People were waving and clapping me on, and even accompanying me on my laps. It turned into a whole village event.”

Despite having just completed his fundraising challenge, Leslie is already looking ahead to what he can do next to help raise even more money for charity.

“I’ve never had to use the services of Combat Stress, but I know people who have. So I’m not done just yet. I’m planning to do a 90 mile walk for them to mark my 90th, as well as a small thing called the London Marathon.”

To sponsor Leslie, click here.