Man completes 10-mile daily walk for 1,000 days

David Ansell spent more than two years walking 10 miles a day, fundraising for Cancer Research UK

A man has completed a challenge that saw him walk 10 miles every day for 1,000 days to raise money for cancer research.

David Ansell, 51, started in 2023 after losing his father and a friend to cancer.

After spending two years, eight months, three weeks and five days walking around the north-east of England with a banner about the challenge on his back, Mr Ansell said it allowed him to have conversations with survivors and others who had lost loved ones.

"There were some days where I was absolutely drained," said the army reservist, who burned through 22 pairs of trainers.

"Some of the stories I kept hearing en route kept me going," he said.

But he added bumping into people who had lost loved ones to cancer spurred him on to complete the challenge.

David Ansell said throughout the challenge people approached him because of his banner

Mr Ansell said he lost a further three friends to the disease during the challenge.

He would spend large chunks of his day walking from his home in Sunderland to Fenham Barracks in Newcastle, where he works.

He said that while he would be "power walking" some days, on others he would be "shuffling" along.

About 45 people joined Mr Ansell for his final walk on Tuesday, starting at the Stadium of Light, taking him through Seaburn and Cleadon in South Tyneside, before finishing with a celebration at Sunderland pub Chaplin's.

"I just felt a massive relief off my shoulders that I had completed it," he said.

"Some people doubted me at the very beginning and said it was too long, but I proved the doubters that if you put your mind to it, you can do it."

He has raised more than £28,000 for Cancer Research UK in the process.

This is not Mr Ansell's first challenge and he said he was certain it would not be his last.

Before crossing the finish line, he was already thinking about what comes next.

"It just feels weird now putting normal clothing on," he said.