A COMMITTED fundraiser presented a cheque for £1,540 to the Fallen Fusiliers charity — after walking 15 miles on Christmas Day.

Lea McGowan undertook the gruelling challenge together with his partner Alison Gilmore, and their friends Darren James and Andy Malius, to raise money for the charity, which supports past and present Fusiliers and their families.

Mr McGowan and the group walked from Bury to Bolton Town Hall, and then to the Radcliffe Old Town Hall and The Swan and Cemetery pub in Manchester Road.

He said: “To raise so much is really uplifting, because it’s for such a good cause. The sponsorship has come from all quarters, which is nice.

“We have lost a lot of Fusiliers over the years and the numbers are increasing, that is why it’s so important to keep this charity at the forefront of people’s minds.

“I want to help the families of fallen soldiers in any way I can. Just because the soldiers are lost, it doesn’t mean their family should be.”

Mr McGowan was one of two people to walk the entire 15 miles carrying 50lb of sand in their rucksacks.

He presented the cheque to Lieutenant Colonel Mike Glover, the area regimental secretary for the Fusiliers, and Steve Fitt, standard bearer for the Fusiliers in Lancashire.