A 72-year-old great-grandad who underwent a quadruple heart bypass has exceeded his pledge to walk ten miles a day throughout 2022 for a Warwick children's charity as he approaches the halfway point this week.

Tony Cunningham, from Coventry, has already raised more than £4,500 for Molly Ollys by clocking up 2,500 miles on his early morning laps around the city's Memorial Park.

Tony, who has not missed a single 5am start since he began, is approximately 450 miles over his halfway target and well on his way to covering the equivalent distance of Coventry to Detroit by the time he completes his final walk on New Year's Eve.

He said: "Compared to when I started out six months ago I can now say I've walked the walk, rather than just talked the talk – walked the equivalent of Coventry to Reykjavik in fact!

"It's been tiring and hard going at times. I sit down on benches whenever I need to recharge my batteries and I've managed to tailor the route as much as possible to avoid hills.

"The floods in January were the hardest. I was cold and got absolutely soaked some days. There was one day when I was struggling to get round and I thought to myself, what have I taken on here?

Tony with Molly Ollys founder Rachel Ollerenshaw (Image supplied)

"It suddenly dawned on me what a mammoth challenge I'd set myself, but a guy who was jogging the opposite way suddenly stopped in his tracks and just started applauding me. I felt quite emotional at that moment and it gave me a mental boost to carry on.

"I've been blown away by all the support I've received from park visitors and employees and park run participants on Saturdays."

He added: "Over the last few weeks, while walking I met three mums whose children had wishes granted by Molly Ollys who approached me when they saw the branded bib I was wearing. It was quite emotional but gives you a big lift and reminds you, when you have a bad day, why you're doing it."

Tony, who has lost more than a stone in weight since beginning the challenge, complements his diet with a Complan food supplement and takes a banana and pastry for added energy every day.

He is spurred on every day by the precious memory of his late wife Jackie of 47 years, who died of cancer last year.

"I feel she is with me in spirit. I think she'd be cheering me on while still telling me I'm mad. I think it has surprised a lot of people that I've kept it up. But this is all about the charity- and I'm determined to see it through," he added.

Supporters, including the Lord Mayor of Coventry and 'Lady Godiva' officially see off Tony on his first morning on New Year's Day (Image supplied)

Warwick-based Molly Ollys was established following the death of Rachel and Tim Ollerenshaw's eight-year-old daughter Molly from a rare kidney cancer and marks its tenth anniversary this year.

The charity supports children with terminal or life-threatening illnesses and their families. It helps with emotional support and donates wishes, therapeutic toys and books to children directly and through hospitals across the UK.

Rachel said: "We have been staying in close contact with Tony since he set off on this mammoth challenge for us at Molly Ollys. It is beyond most people's imagination to even consider walking 10 miles per day every day of 2022.

"Tony often says he doesn't know if he can do it, but I have no doubt at all that he will smash it. He is already about 450 miles ahead of his target. Even when it has been pouring with rain or freezing cold, Tony is out there bright and early.

"We are so grateful to this amazing man who has raised – and is continuing to raise - lots of money for the Charity, whilst also raising lots of awareness of the work that we do."

A 10-mile canal walk in Warwick made for a change of scene for the fundraiser this month (image supplied)

The walking challenge marks a long-awaited return to fitness for the grandad of 11 and great-grandad of six who underwent lifesaving heart surgery four years ago – and whilst still recovering from post-traumatic stress disorder following an accident.

And no stranger to the pain of child loss, Tony himself lost twins in his first marriage, aged just 21.

He recalls: "One was stillborn and one died in my arms on the way to the hospital. Even though it was 50 years ago that torments me to this day. There's not a day goes by when I don't think about that."

To sponsor Tony visit his JustGiving page here.

To find out all the ways you can donate to Molly Olly's Wishes, visit the website.