Widower completes charity walk planned with wife

Faye Exler was going to join her husband on his 100,000 step challange

A TikTok influencer has raised £75,000 completing a walking challenge in memory of his wife, who helped plan the fundraiser before her death.

Marshall Exler, 26, from Buckinghamshire, had hoped to earn £10,000 by taking 100,000 steps on a treadmill while live streaming to his 500,000 followers.

His wife Faye Exler, 24, had planned to complete part of the challenge with him but died in December 2024 after being diagnosed with Sarcoma in August 2023.

He said: "I think Faye would be absolutely over the moon and buzzing."

Just before starting the challenge he said: "I feel like I'm honouring her by following it through and I'm going to do it without her, she'll be with me in different ways."

He continued: "We had the most amazing relationship for five years and honestly the best time of my life, the most kind, caring person, but also so outspoken when she thought something.

"She'd always tell you when you're wrong, which she did to me quite a lot. But that was one of her features that I absolutely loved."

His wife first noticed a lump on her inner thigh in 2023

His wife first noticed a lump on her inner thigh, roughly the size of 20p coin, in 2023. Doctors advised her it was likely nothing to worry about.

After she was finally diagnosed with a rare sarcoma, she underwent surgery to remove the lump followed by radiotherapy.

In March 2024 doctors discovered the sarcoma had spread to her lungs and it was incurable. She died nine months later.

Mr Exler said: "Throughout all her diagnosis and everything like that, the way she handled it was nothing short of just brave, amazing, inspirational,.

"That's sort of like passed on to me now, and I want to sort of continue that for her."

Doctors discovered the sarcoma had spread to her lungs and it was incurable

Mr Exler's TikTok followers could watch the challenge live on his page.

The initial goal was for Faye to join him and complete the final 5,000 or 10,000 steps of the 100,000 total.

Before his 24-hour stream had even started his viewers had raised £33,000 for Sarcoma UK.

He said: "I'm very overwhelmed by everything. It felt like it was never going to end at the start but now looking back it was so quick.

"The goal was £10,000, but to now be at £75,000 is just ridiculous I'm already thinking what can I do next."