A FORMER serial fundraiser has dusted off his old walking boots in order to complete a gruelling trek to raise money for charity.

Intrepid long distance walker Robert Price, from Argoed, thought he had hung his boots up seven years ago after completing some 11 walks for various charities.

That was until the 67-year-old heard his local ward councillor, Leon Gardiner, was launching a charity appeal during his year in office as Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council to raise money for Ty Hafan Children’s Hospice and Macmillan Nurses.

Without hesitation, Mr Price, who lives in Lower James Street in the village of Argoed, dusted down his boots and pledged to walk some 40 miles from Brecon Cathedral to Blackwood through routes including Llangynidr, Trefil, Tredegar and of course his beloved Argoed.

On Saturday, he was joined by a back-up team for each leg, which included Mr councillor Gardiner’s grand-daughters Natalie Harvey and Samantha Evans.

Mr Price left Brecon at 8am and arrived at Blackwood Miners’ Institute at around 7.30pm to be greeted by the Mayor and Mayoress Alma Gardiner, who both thanked him and presented him with a commemorative pocket watch.

The fundraiser, dubbed the “Walk to Victory” by Mr Price, is expected to raise around £2,000 for the Mayor’s charities.