PRESENTER Jeff Stelling was joined by about 100 people for a walking marathon across the North East.

He was joined by Chris Kamara for The March for Men event to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK.

The group set off in a light drizzle from Newcastle at about 8am and are due to make to it Sunderland later today.

They stopped off for lunch at Durham County Cricket Club in Chester-le-Street. 

Among them was Tina Pinder, widow of Sunderland fan Lloyd Pinder, who died of prostate cancer last September, aged 48.

The Yorkshireman had joined Mr Stelling on his first March for Men event in 2016, and was there to meet him at the finish line at Tottenham Hotspur in 2019, alongside former Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and England goalkeeper Ray Clemence, father of current Newcastle coach Stephen, who also died last year.

Mr Stelling, who was doing his 30th walking marathon for the charity, said the atmosphere had been jovial during the first stage of the walk.

He said: "I still regard the North East as home and coming home is always great. It's quite an emotional thing.

"The first couple of legs were inspired by Lloyd Pinder. Tina is doing the first leg with us and that's a pretty emotional part of the journey."

He has been leading the March of Men since it was launched in 2016, and he has been joined by more than 1,200 football fans and supporters, visiting 89 clubs.

It's great because it's something that everyone can do," he added. "Everyone here has been affected by prostate cancer in some way. A lot of people know someone who is affected and they want to do something to help and this is a great way of doing that. It's a small way of giving back and its just a few days and a bit of walking."

He added: "I'm a couple of years older than the last time I did it and the knees are a couple of years more dodgy.

"People ask me about training but you can't really train for 10 or 11 hours of walking. It's a mental battle. I know it's going to be hard but I'm just hoping my mind wins over my body."

The next leg will take Mr Stelling from Harrogate Town to Leeds United FC, and to Merseyside on Wednesday. The final walk takes place in London.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, affecting one in eight men, rising to one in four for black men.

More than 11,500 men die of the disease every year in the UK.

You can check your risk by visiting Prostate Cancer UK at prostatecanceruk.org/riskcheck

Sponsor Jeff at prostatecanceruk.org/jeffsmarch with all money going to fund research.

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