Man with MS walks 800 miles for charity

Andy Blacker has to use walking sticks and wear splints on his ankles while walking

A man with multiple sclerosis (MS) has walked 800 miles (1,300km) up and down his street to raise money for charity.

Andy Blacker, 60, from Ipswich, has had the condition for 29 years and is now suffering from secondary progressive MS.

He has taken on several fundraising challenges which, once completed, will add up to a total of 1,000 miles (1,600km).

He is currently raising money for the East Anglian Air Ambulance, but has also raised funds for other charities along the way.

He completed the 800 miles in two years and two months, doing mostly the same route the entire time, in all sorts of weather conditions.

He starts at Landseer Park, in east Ipswich, and walks to the local Co-op, about 0.5 miles (0.8km) away, using his walking sticks for support.

He has been raising money for several organisations, which has also included East Anglia's Children's Hospices, Suffolk Help in Multiple Sclerosis, and The Bus Shelter Ipswich.

Mr Blacker has to wear a boxer splint on his left ankle and a full rigid splint on his right to help with MS-related foot drop, which has caused him many falls and fractures in the past.

He often has supporters join him on his walks.

"It's lovely that I get so much support and that's one of the things that keeps me going, without a doubt," said Mr Blacker.

"My inspiration comes from the community, from the people who give me a bit of warmth in my heart that gets through the pain in my feet, and I just keep going because it just needs to be done, doesn't it?"

"He is one of our Pride of Ipswich heroes," said the Deputy Mayor of Ipswich

One of Andy's supporters, David, who joined in on the walk to reach the 800-mile mark, said: "He just smiles the whole time. Never moans, never groans, never complains.

"He's an inspiration, really. He's got these obstacles that he's been suffering from for years, but he doesn't let that stop him and he just carries on."

The Deputy Mayor of Ipswich, Elizabeth Hughes, also joined Mr Blacker on his latest walk.

"I'm incredibly humbled to know him and what he's doing is really, really good," she said.

"It shows a bit of an example to everybody else that, whatever your disability or your situation, you can do something for other people.

"He is one of our Pride of Ipswich heroes; I think he's fantastic."