An Angus man who has trekked thousands of miles for charity has finally been forced to hang up his walking boots.
In his latest feat, Bobby Campbell (64), of Edzell, had intended to walk eight miles a day for 500 days, earning £1 a mile for CLIC Sargent, the charity for children and young people with cancer.
Though he has undergone two hip replacements, which have barely caused him to take a breather between challenges, a circulation problem is proving more troublesome.
It has forced him to call a halt in his bid to raise £4000 for the cancer charity and it looks like he has completed his last leg of long-distance walking.
He has managed to raise £500 since setting off on March 1.
But he said, “At the start when I was doing eight miles and then four miles, I could just tell something wasn’t right.
“It’s my left leg that’s causing the problem and it was getting to the stage where it would tighten up after half a mile. I’d just be dragging the leg and that’s not good.
“I went to consult the nurses and they told me that I may be doing more damage by carrying on walking so I’ve taken the decision to stop.
“The blood isn’t getting through to the bottom part of the leg. One foot would be warm and the other cold.Positive thinker”I’m a positive thinker though and an old soldier, so I don’t give up easily. If my leg can be sorted I will be back on the road. But I’ve got to think about the long term and realise that I’m not getting any younger.”
Bobby, who has been raising money for good causes since 1972, was made an MBE for his efforts.
Far from retiring, however, the ex-soldier is already thinking of alternatives to walking, such as parachute jumping.
He said, “Walking is something I love doing and I hate to give it up. But I will carry on raising money, just do something different. No doubt it will be something crazy.”
He goes for a scan at Ninewells Hospital later this month to discover the extent of the damage to his leg.
He has also been invited to the hospital in May to meet some of the youngsters there with cancer and he stressed his CLIC Sargent fund was still open.
He said, “People give me money when they see me out walking. Somebody once handed me a cheque for £250.
“It’s bitterly disappointing that for the moment I’m at a standstill.
“But a lot of people know where I am and they have my phone number and all donations are welcome.”