A KEIGHLEY man has stepped-up to help charity ­­– and smashed his target.

Rotarian Robert Allan aimed to walk an average of 10,000 steps a day throughout March to raise money for the Marie Curie hospice in Bradford.

But final calculations, through his Fitbit device, show that on average he clocked-up 12,586.5 steps daily – or a whopping 390,184 over the whole month.

And his efforts have so far coined-in £1,500, with some money still to come in.

Robert, who turned 76 during the challenge, said he was delighted with how it had gone.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the walks and I think I can honestly say I didn’t cover exactly the same route twice throughout the whole month,” said Robert, a member of the Bradford Blaize Rotary Club.

“It was lovely when people joined me, to accompany myself and my dog.

“On most occasions the weather was kind to us – and those joining me expressed their enjoyment at the nature of the walks we undertook and the scenery. I am extremely lucky to live close to open countryside.”

Robert completed his challenge with a flourish – recording 20,005 steps on March 30 and 19,094 on the final day.

He added: “I am advised by Fitbit that given my height, 10,000 steps equate to five miles or just a little under – so I’ve walked a few miles over the month!”

Robert and club colleagues usually hold supermarket collections each March for the hospice as part of the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal, but the events couldn’t take place this year due to the pandemic.

Owing to the cancellation of all its appeal collections, which is set to cost the charity over £3 million, Marie Curie instead asked people to consider taking on the 10,000-steps-a-day challenge.

The Great Daffodil Appeal, first held in 1986, is now the largest fundraising campaign in the hospice sector.

Marie Curie thanked Robert for taking on the Step into Spring challenge.

Hannah Taylor, for the charity, added: “The Great Daffodil Appeal is vitally important to us.

“Having been held every March for over three decades, this was the first time we’ve had to cancel all of our public collections.

“In these unprecedented times, we need people’s support now more than ever.”

The Bradford Blaize club posted updates on its website about Robert’s progress during his challenge.

A spokesman said that in the past, Robert along with other members had organised and undertaken long-distance sponsored walks where proceeds had gone to Marie Curie in Bradford. But none matched the mileage of this challenge.

People can still donate at justgiving.com/fundraising/rotary-club-of-bradford-blaize-for-marie-curie.