A PERSONAL trainer who was awarded an MBE after spending lockdown delivering essentials to people in need is on his way to pick up his award – on foot.

Mike Hind, from Teesside is approaching the half way point of his trek from Middlesbrough to Windsor, where he is due to receive an honour.

He is making the 250-mile journey by foot to raise money for armed forces charity SSAFA.

Read more: MBE 'is for the whole Teesside community'

He set off on January 8 and is hoping it will take 24 days to walk about half a million steps, and will raise £25,000.

He said: “I’m so lucky to have an amazingly supportive team accompanying me on this journey and a fantastic following on social media who make everything I do possible.

“We have had people from all over the world including Australia and America supporting us.

“I felt a bit unjustified travelling to London, staying in a nice hotel and getting dressed comfortably in my suit to go and receive my MBE and decided I wanted to do something to show my gratitude and how appreciative I am.”

Mr Hind is due to pick up his honour in February.

He was awarded the MBE for his work during the pandemic, which saw him delivering food and other essentials to people in need.

Mr Hind, who also campaigns against online trolling and abuse, with the website www.stop-hate.co.uk,which generates funds for other charities, is encouraging other people to join him for a day walk as he makes his way down south.

He said he was grateful for the support he had already received.

The Northern Echo: Mike Hind is being joined by other people every day as he walks from Middlesbrough to Windsor to get his MBE

He said: “We have even been contacted by other people with MBEs who have seen what we are doing and come out in support.

“We went past army barracks in the York area and stopped for a coffee, where we met two soldiers who asked us what we were doing and gave a donation, praising the work SSAFA do as amazing.

“SSAFA have been great at promoting what we are doing across their social media channels too and I am just so grateful to all the people who have supported us in this team effort – and we hope to smash our £25,000 target.”

As he has two businesses and a family he is returning to Middlesbrough after each day of walking but has pledged to offset the challenge's carbon footprint by twice over by planting trees.

So far he has raised more than £10,000 for the charity.

He is posting regular updates about his progress, which can be followed by visiting his Facebook page facebook.com/MikeHindFitness.

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