Milnrow ex-soldier completes marathon walking challenge – then climbs Snowdon for 86th birthday

A veteran not only completed a 1,000 mile walk for charity – he celebrated it by climbing 3,650ft high Snowdon on his 86th birthday.

Pensioner Gordon Aaron, from Milnrow, ran for the Army while completing his National Service with the Army Border Regiment in his 20s.

He began his 1,000-mile challenge in January, completed it two weeks early in July, and has now swapped his walking boots for training shoes as he switches walking for running to prepare for the half-marathon in Manchester in October.
 

Read more: Milnrow veteran to complete 1,000 mile walking challenge for Veterans in CommunitiesPublished: 24 June 2021

Gordon said: “I believe if you set your mind to it you can achieve anything. If you look after your body then it will look after you.”

He is a member of Haslingden-based Veterans In Communities, a charity which runs outreach in Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale.

Gordon chose to complete the challenge for the charity and, so far, has raised £1,200 through both online and offline donations. He will raise further money for VIC by running the half-marathon.

He said: “Sarah Shard who works for Activ8te Me, organises walks for the elderly and she is a great lady and is good friend.

“She organised for me to climb Snowdon on my 86th birthday and she brought along her dog Molly, a Jack Russell and Staffordshire cross.

“When we got to about 200m from the top, I was slowing down to do breathing exercises and Molly was looking at me as if to say ‘come on, let’s go.’

“Then she was almost dragging Sarah to the top of the mountain. She is a brilliant dog.

“I got stuck in a crevice on the way down and I fell and landed in a group of walkers, thankfully I had my two poles.

“My hamstring went, my calves went, my feet and my heels and I thought, wow I have to start looking after myself.

“I had four days of aches and pains. However, I am back now, working up to the half-marathon and I am starting with fast walking – around seven and a half miles to Hollingworth Lake.”

 

 

Five years ago, Gordon was treated for prostate cancer and the radiotherapy damaged his immune system.

He changed his diet and his lifestyle, returned to walking and running and now is in good health and his immune system has returned, defying the doctor’s predictions.

Gordon said: “I don’t eat processed food, drink beetroot juice and green tea, I may be 86 but I feel about 40.

“I felt on top of the world when I got to the summit of Snowdon, I appreciate life and am so grateful to Sarah for organising the trip.”