Ipswich fundraiser Andy Blacker on his 700 miles despite MS

The 59-year-old has now walked 700 miles, having started in March 2021 when he was inspired to take up the challenge by Captain Sir Tom Moore, who became famous during the Covid-19 pandemic for walking 100 lengths of his garden during lockdowns to raise money for the NHS. 

Andy Blacker completes 700 miles (Image: Charlotte Bond)

Since then, he has completed treks along Felixstowe seafront and Cliff Road/Landseer Road in Ipswich to raise money for a variety of good causes, including children’s charity East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices (EACH) and Ipswich-based homeless organisation The Bus Shelter. 

His raised £9,000 for EACH, while he recently collected £650 for The Bus Shelter, which provides for the basic needs of the homeless, people with addictions and families facing challenging times. 

Other charities he has supported include Suffolk Help in Multiple Sclerosis, St Elizabeth Hospice and Brain Tumour Research. 

Andy Blacker with Ipswich Mayor John Cook (Image: Charlotte Bond)

But the former policeman has no plans to stop and his next walking challenge will begin this Friday, November 4, when he will be fundraising for East Anglia Air Ambulance (EAAA), which provides services in Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Bedfordshire. 

This time, he is aiming to walk 300 miles, bringing his total to another significant milestone- 1,000 miles. 

Andy Blacker has been a familiar sight in the Cliff Road/ Landseer Road area of Ipswich as he walks for charity (Image: Charlotte Bond)

He said: “I am delighted to have completed 700 miles. Psychologically, it is great and I enjoy the challenge of going to the next stage because I need something to beat and I have many targets I want to achieve all of the time.” 

During his walks, he has received support from the mayors of both Ipswich and Felixstowe, along with encouragement from the community, lorry drivers, gyms and electronics firms.