IT’S pouring down, raining heavily as Jeff Stelling is walking from Stoke to Crewe. “It’s wet, I’m just about keeping my head above flood waters, apart from that we are fine!’’ he joked as he carried his 5ft 6in frame above the puddles.

Last year, Stelling strolled ten marathons in ten days from Hartlepool to Wembley in aid of prostate cancer.

He’s going one better this time, well five better as he sets off from St James’ Park, Exeter, to St James’ Park, Newcastle – 15 walking marathons in 15 days.

Yesterday morning the Hartlepool-born Sky Sports frontman set off from Stoke City: “I’m 100 miles or so in at the start of day five so we are a third of the way down, so best foot forward and all that.

“Last year when I walked from Hartlepool to Wembley it was ten marathons in ten days, this time it’s 15 in 15 days so it’s more, it’s harder, longer.

“For the first five days last year I woke up each morning and couldn’t move, it was a struggle to get going - I couldn’t get out of bed and then my body adapted and got on with it.

“This year I’m just thinking ‘I don’t want to do this’ when I wake up, but my body has been fine so far …

“But seriously it’s inspirational and some of the stories and people who are with us make it all worthwhile.

“There’s always something to keep you going, to lift spirits when we need to.”

Stelling is in the North-East from next week. Wednesday is Harrogate to Bedale, Thursday from Darlington to Hartlepool and finally from Durham’s Emirates Riverside to St James’ Park.

Anyone can join in, and places are still available via the prostate cancer website. Last year he had the then Hartlepool United chief executive Russ Green with him all the way.

This year, a prostate cancer survivor is his right-hand man.

Stelling said: “Look at Kevin Webber – he’s with us every day. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer two and a half years ago and was given two years to live.

“When anyone is struggling or feeling down he reminds them that every step along the way is helping the charity support people like him and making sure his kids still have a father.

“He’s inspirational, he really is.

“We’ve passed the £160,000 mark online and with donations along the way, gift aid and sponsorship from the walkers I think we have passed £220,000 already. It’s a phenomenal response, fantastic the support we are getting.

“We have 100 walkers with us today, which is the maximum we can have and it’s the same the next few days, but if anyone wants to join us in the North-East then have a look and walk with us. Listen, if I can do it then we all can.’’

Just like last year, Stelling is also accompanied along the way by various sporting celebrities. Each backing the cause and offering support to the walkers.

“The response from the football and sporting families has been fantastic,’’ he reflected. “Dominic Cork has been a great supporter of the cause and is with us today. Gordon Banks was at Stoke at the start. Every Tuesday he and their League Cup winning team of 1972 get together, have a walk and go back for a coffee so they started with us this morning.

“Terry Conroy – he scored at Wembley I think – was there, Denis Smith is part of it and it’s wonderful to see them help us out. The response from the football world has been brilliant for us all.”

And Stelling can’t wait to be back home next weekend. He will walk along Catcote Road in Hartlepool, the place where his late mother lived, as he finishes his penultimate day at Victoria Park.

Likely to greet him at the Vic will be new Pools boss Craig Harrison – who Stelling has already met and enticed to Pools.

“He comes with a very good record and a winning mentality which I hope we can have too,” he said. “It’s been a long time since we enjoyed any sort of success and Craig has had plenty of it at TNS.

“I was sat with him at their presentation evening, so I got a feel for what he is all about and I gave him a taste of what Hartlepool is too.

“It’s going to be a different league for us and a different league for him too, but hopefully he can bring some success.

“We all want to be back in the Football League as soon as possible and hopefully he can get us up a level straight away.’’

To make a donation, find out more about the event, or to join in the North-East legs visit marchformen.org