A DORSET veteran has completed a 30 mile trip around his kitchen in a wheelchair.

Major Andrew Johnston, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, raised more than £21,000 for struggling charities through completing the challenge.

Major Johnston, from Motcombe in north Dorset, originally set out to complete the distance of a marathon but was inspired by the amount of support he was receiving to complete a total of 30 miles.

Major Johnston served in the British Army for 20 years, the original plan was for the challenge to begin on April 21, the Queen’s 94th birthday, and finish on June 6, the 76th anniversary of D-Day. The challenge consisted of 100 lengths per day of the 10-yard-long open kitchen-dining room.

The 26 miles and 385 yards distance was reached on the intended date, but Major Johnston continued with 665 extra lengths to reach a total of 30 miles, finishing on June 13, the Queen’s official birthday.

Upon completing the challenge, Major Johnston was given a standing ovation from fellow village residents, who were waiting outside his house.

Major Johnston said: "People have been enormously generous, I'm just constantly amazed by the generosity of people all over.

"There's so many people banding together to help make a difference and to support all these charities that have been having a hard time.

“It's a massive team effort across the country and we're just pleased to be a small part of it."

Major Johnston’s wife, Catherine, has joined the fundraising efforts over the last two weeks. Mrs Johnston completed her own marathon, walking two miles per day to ‘test-drive’ her new hips following two recent hip replacement operations.

Between them Major and Mrs Johnston are raising money for seven charities, NHS Charities Together, Combat Stress, Wessex MS Therapy Centre, La Folia, Motcombe Memorial Hall, Racing Welfare and Marie Curie.

Major Johnston has been wheelchair dependant since contracting multiple sclerosis in 1995. In 2018, he contracted flu and pneumonia at the same time, spending five days in hospital and incurring significant weight and muscle loss, increased fatigue and breathing difficulties.

"At the beginning I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it. I had good days and bad days, dependent on how the body was that day.

"I never felt like giving up, you just have to push through it.

"I'm certainly much more physically fit than I was. People have commented on how much better my breathing is now.

"I don't want to let go of all the physical benefit I've gained after the next 2 months, so I will keep up my exercise but probably not to the same intensity."

For more information, or to make a donation, visit www.justgiving.com/team/MajorAndysMarathon.

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