91-year-old veteran completes 40-MILE walking challenge to raise funds for armed forces

The great-grandfather served in the 12th Yorkshire Parachute Battalion from 1950 – but his career was cut short after a parachute malfunction seven years later

A 91-year-old veteran completed a 40-mile hike to raise funds for two armed forces charities.

Despite undergoing cancer treatment and back pain from an accident in the armed forces, Yorkshireman Jeffrey Long MBE was determined to make it to the finish line to keep people aware of the armed forces’ plight.

The great-grandfather served in the 12th Yorkshire Parachute Battalion from 1950 – but his career was cut short after a parachute malfunction seven years later.

Jeffrey told GB News: “When I went to the Paras I was 19. Unfortunately we used to parachute jump so if the chute failed you were dead unless a miracle happened.

“Well, mine didn’t fail completely. It was a partial failure and I fell 500 feet, that was the end of my time in the army and I was discharged on a small pension, unfit for further service.”

Since retiring, Jeffrey has supported the armed forces community and other charitable causes, single-handedly raising over £300,000 for charities over the past 15 years.

The former para was made an MBE in 2010 for his volunteer services and has completed dozens of charity hikes, including the 650-mile trek from London to Lausanne, Switzerland, carrying a 30kg backpack.

Jeffrey began his most recent challenge in November by completing the miles in West Yorkshire before completing the final mile to the Cenotaph in Bradford this week to help the charity Royal British Legion and Support Our Paras.

Speaking to GB News at the Cenotaph, Jeffrey said: “People just say it was a different world, you know, it didn’t happen to us but without the veterans we would be in real chaos.

“This [the most recent challenge] is only a 40 kilometer walk because I am suffering with my leg and back at the moment.

“Normally I do 15 miles a day no problem but I was only admitted to the hospital a year ago and when I came out I was all shaky I don’t know why and I fell a bit.

“That’s why I have a stick. The stick they said would help me, but it doesn’t really do it, I’m getting nowhere with it.

“I’m very proud of my time as a paratrooper and it’s just my way of giving back.”

The Royal British Legion is the country’s largest armed forces charity, providing care and support to all former and current members of the British armed forces and their families.

The charity works with Remembrance and is known for the annual Poppy Appeal and its emblem, the red poppy.

Gillian Carr is a community fundraiser for the Royal British Legion and is grateful for the money Jeffrey has raised.

She told GB News: “I think Jeffrey is absolutely amazing and he is one of our most notable fundraisers.

“He has truly dedicated his entire retirement to supporting the armed forces and his dedication and commitment is second to none.”

To support Jeffrey by making a donation on his Just Giving page, visit https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/jeffreylong