LONG distance walker David Gibbard has raised hundreds of pounds to support his great nephew’s dream to walk.

Last month Mr Gibbard, 73, walked 40 miles from his home in Courtington Lane, Bloxham, to Greatworth, Northamptonshire, and back in 11 hours.

He roped in friends and neighbours to sponsor him and raised £820 for the Ronnie Jacob’s appeal.

Ronnie, four, is undergoing intensive physiotherapy after specialist surgery in the US to remove a vertebra from the bottom of his spine and take out damaged nerves.

The youngster, FROM St Mary’s Road, Adderbury, cannot stand independently at the moment and needs a frame to walk, but his parents, Kate and Andrew, say they have already seen improvements.

Mr Gibbard said he left home at 4.30am and was back home by 4.30pm, in a journey which included an hour’s break for lunch.

He said: “I did 40 miles in about 11 hours. It was a good walk, nice and cool, and it didn’t rain until an hour after I got home. I’m very pleased with how much I have raised.”

But Mr Gibbard’s walking was not finished. This month, on July 9, he took part in the Katharine House Hospice Midnight Walk, clocking up another 13 miles.

He was the first walker back, in two-and-a-half hours, and raised £100 for the Adderbury-based hospice.