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A 101-and-a-half-year-old Occupation hero has warned Vladimir Putin that his invasion "will not succeed”, as the local legend hit more than 900 steps of a walking challenge to raise money for Ukraine.
Inspired by the late Captain Sir Tom Moore, Bob Le Sueur MBE is aiming to walk 5,000 steps around his garden by the end of April.
“I have a duty to help [Ukraine], and not just help myself,” Mr Le Sueur, who is celebrated for his efforts in rescuing Russian prisoners of war, said.
As well as looking to help “the refugees from Ukraine – women, children and old people”, Mr Le Sueur noted: “The men are still in Ukraine trying to stop their country from being overrun. I want to do something to help them.”
The fundraiser came about after Mr Le Sueur was approached by a member of the Royal Commonwealth Society and asked if he would walk for Ukraine. He told them he would “give it a go”.
Bob this morning planning the ‘fair weather’ course for his challenge for Ukraine. 150 steps a day IS a REAL challenge at 101 and a half . 5days to go before it’s ‘Go Bob’ ! ( with appropriate supervision and making sure he doesn’t overdo it , not easy;) pic.twitter.com/0qb6FkwLwh
— Bob’s Ukraine Challenge so far 982 steps (@Bobpennysteps) March 29, 2022
Pictured: Mr Le Sueur planning his course for the fundraiser.
During the challenge, he has been sporting a blue and gold jumper to represent the country he is raising money for.
“I’ve been given it as a gift by [Channel Jumper], but I’m going to pay for it. There is a cottage industry in Alderney, which is manufacturing sweaters in the colours blue and gold of Ukraine,” Mr Le Sueur explained.
“I will wear it very proudly,” added the 101-year-old.
Mr Le Sueur told Express that he decided to launch the walk on Sunday 3 April when he turned 101-and-a-half.
Pictured: At the time of writing, Mr Le Sueur has walked 982 steps.
He was born on 3 October 1920, and a 19-year-old insurance clerk when the Germans first arrived in Jersey in 1940.
The 101-year-old is breaking down his walk into a single lap of roughly 150 steps each day.
“I try desperately not to loose count. 5000 is a long way to go.”
Despite the weather conditions, which have recently seen the centenarian centurion out in the wind and rain, Mr Le Sueur said that he had enjoyed the challenge so far.
"It can be very windy - I live on the edge by the sea," he noted, but added: “I enjoy it immensely, because I have been struck by the kindness of so many people from so many different walks of life."
When the weather is dry, Mr Le Sueur walks up his garden to the washing line, goes around it and then makes his way to his flowerbed.
Pictured: Mr Le Sueur's outdoor walking course runs past his flowerbed which consists of tulips, bluebells, and rosebushes.
He says he is not sure how much has been raised so far – all donations are being processed via the Side by Side page – but that he was “enormously grateful” for every penny.
"I've been surprised at the generosity of the response of people thinking not only of themselves but of other people who desperately need our help.
"[Ukrainians] are facing an uncertain future in their country."
He added; “I wish Mr Putin could hear me say that I have experienced in my life two major bogeymen: one was Adolf Hitler and the second was Stalin.
“Now Mr Putin has turned Russia into a pariah state in regards to the rest of the world and he will not succeed.”
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