Hereford's best-known postman hangs up his trainers

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/1988 ... n-charity/

A HEREFORD postman is hanging up his trainers after raising more than half a million pounds for charity.

Postman Mike Chandler has spent the last 21 years fundraising, with London Marathons and a host of other challenges under his belt.

His epic fundraising journey started in 2000 with the Welsh Three Peaks Challenge for s children's hospice.

The next year, Mike decided to take on his first London Marathon, and that, he said, was going to be that.



But the overwhelming generosity of the Herefordshire public spurred him on, leading him to complete an impressive 19 London Marathons, six treadmill marathons (one dressed as a camel), two nationwide cycle rides on Royal Mail bikes, a run from Hereford to London pushing a Royal Mail trolley, running the Welsh Three Peaks, and a couple of 10-kilometre runs, for which the camel costume made another appearance.

"The memories are endless," Mike said.

"The joy of running through the streets of London, the TV interviews, meeting my athletics heroes Steve Ovett, Dame Kelly Holmes, and Denise Lewis, and being recognised by Sophie, Countess of Wessex, who looked at me and said: "Oh, you're postman Mike". I nearly fell over!"

After an incredible track record of raising funds, Mike has now decided that the time is right to step back after an illness in 2020 forced him to withdraw from his 20th London Marathon.

But, he said, the generosity of his supporters raised more than £36,000 for Blackmarston School and Yeleni Cancer Support in Hereford, despite his reluctant withdrawal from the race, taking his final fundraising total to an incredible £502,000.

"The most enduring and meaningful memory has been the continued generosity of kind-hearted people who sent in many, many thousands of donations," Mike said.

"I honestly cannot thank you enough, and will carry this gratitude with me for the rest of my life."

Mike, who is set to marry fiancee Kristina this year, will soon be retiring and said the couple plan to spend their time cycling wherever their legs will take them.