Jeff Ellis, of Barwell, was been inspired by Captain John Moore to create his own walking challenge in aid of LOROS.
Jeff celebrates his 74th birthday in June, and hopes to complete one lap around his garden for each year before blowing out his candles.
Although Jeff has leukemia and often gets breathless, he is extremely determined to achieve his goal, often completing more than one lap a day.
Jeff said: “I thought, if Captain Tom can do it, so can ambulance man Jeff.”
Captain Tom Moore, is a veteran who has raised millions of pounds for the NHS by doing 100 laps of his garden in time for his centenary birthday.
All proceeds from Jeff’s challenge will go to LOROS, a charity very close to his family’s heart.
Jeff’s step daughter, Sarah, is a nurse educator at LOROS, and comes from a line of medical workers. Before his retirement, Jeff worked as an ambulance driver in Nuneaton, and his wife, Michele, worked as staff nurse at Hinckley and District Hospital and Hinckley and Bosworth Community Hospital.
He said: “One of my colleagues, Pete Williams, died in LOROS about two years ago, so it seemed like the obvious choice.
“A lot of people are donating to the NHS; it’s all going to the NHS. At some point, if LOROS doesn’t get the donations, it’s going to be in difficulty. We wanted to do what we could to help.”
Jeff has now raised £751, over halfway to his target of £1,500. He has been astounded by the support received so far, saying:
“The donations have come from New Zealand, Australia - people we don’t know at all! I had a call the other day from a lady who used to work with me who I’d not spoken to in years. A couple of days later, a cheque arrived for £100. Really, it’s been amazing.”
He has the whole support of LOROS behind him, with step daughter Sarah his biggest fan.
She said: “Jeff is one of the kindest and most generous people I have had the privilege of knowing. I am so proud of what he is doing for LOROS.”
If you’d like to support Jeff with his birthday challenge too, you can make a donation on his Facebook page.
