A MAN who has collected more than one million five pence coins for a hospice is not being deterred by Covid and is continuing his fundraising efforts by taking to a home exercise bike.

St Cuthbert’s Hospice volunteer Ian Watt, from Great Lumley, is aiming to collect two million of the little silver coins, but gathering them ground to halt with the pandemic.

He has now set himself a target of cycling 500 miles on his exercise bike throughout February to raise £2,330 - the cost of one day’s care at the hospice in Durham.

Ian, who is fondly known as “the 5p guy” has to date collected, and counted, about 1,231,000 silver coins, totalling a staggering £61,550.

FUNDRAISER: Volunteer fundraiser Ian Watt (67) with just some of the half a million 5p pieces he has collected for the St Cuthberts Hospice in Durham. Picture DAVID WOOD.

FUNDRAISER: Volunteer fundraiser Ian Watt (67) with just some of the half a million 5p pieces he has collected for the St Cuthbert's Hospice in Durham. Picture DAVID WOOD.

He said: “I began fundraising for St Cuthbert’s Hospice in 1999 as I knew they were looking for help.

“I’ve helped to arrange coffee mornings, lunches and this year we should have been celebrating 21 years of fundraising coach trips.

“We’ve been all over the UK. For the last 18 years I’ve collected the 5p’s and lots of people in the community usually help me to save them up.

“It took 16 years to collect a million 5p coins and I thought it would take me half the time to collect the rest, but it’s all ground to a halt now.”

“I can’t get out to places to collect the coins, people are carrying even less cash than usual and the hospice can’t hold any big events at the moment while people aren’t allowed to get together.

“That’s why I’ve had to come up with a new challenge for myself and think of other ways I can continue to fundraise. They need help now more than ever.”

Ian, who is in his seventies and admits his fitness is not what it used to be, will be covering almost the distance from the hospice to Land’s End.

5p man Ian Watt is raising money for St Cuthberts Hospice by riding a gym bike Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

5p man Ian Watt is raising money for St Cuthbert's Hospice by riding a gym bike Picture: SARAH CALDECOTT

Jade McArdle, senior community and events coordinator, said: “Ian is always such an inspiration to us at St Cuthbert’s. Once he puts his mind to something he will absolutely see it through.

“We’re cheering him on in his challenge and we hope he inspires many others to consider doing some fundraising for us too.”

“Like many other charities we have seen a huge impact from the coronavirus pandemic. Our shops remain closed and we don’t know when we might be able to plan any big fundraisers like we used to. We’re hugely grateful for any support at this time to help make sure we can continue to be there for people who need our care.”

To sponsor Ian visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ians500miles.