Hartlepool dad's 54-mile walk in a day - for the charity which showed so much love to his daughter

Daniel Robinson’s 17-hour-plus trek was in gratitude for the kindness shown by Miles for Men to his daughter Pippa.

He and his friend John Tiplady wanted to walk more than 50 miles and they covered a 13.5 mile route four times to smash the fundraising target of £600.

Pippa Robinson, who is 19 months old, has cerebral palsy and needs a form of constraint induced movement therapy to help develop her weaker side.

She gets help from a North East-based charity called Heel To Toe with the therapy.

When organisers at Hartlepool’s own Miles For Men charity heard of Pippa’s story, they stepped in to help fund extra help for the little Hartlepool “princess” so that she can hopefully develop further.

To say thanks, Daniel and John tackled the mega walk and Daniel said: “We completed it in 17 hours and 5 minutes. We were very lucky with the weather. It was chilly start but ended up being a perfect day for walking.

“We had support all the way round with different people walking with us and lots of cars beeping and keeping us motivated. We had people stopping us to donate on our way round which was amazing.

"I would like to say a massive thank you too everyone who donated the money which is going to a great charity.

"A massive thank you to Micky Day and Marc Tiplady who walked two laps with us and my brothers Ben and Adam who walked one lap each. And finally John Tiplady who did the challenge with me. I couldn’t have got through it without him. He agreed to do the walk without hesitation to support my daughter and Miles For Men so he is a legend in my eyes.

"It will take a few weeks for the blisters and aches and pains to go but it was well worth it.”

Miles For Men founder Micky Day said the efforts of Daniel and John was “some achievement from 6 in morning until just beyond 11pm”.

“We also met Pippa and there were constant smiles when she saw her dad. Pippa is the reason we were there doing the walk – raising awareness for cerebral palsy and funds for Miles for Men.

"Thank you to Daniel and John and everyone who supported them.”

Pippa, who is daughter to Daniel and his partner, Gemma Friend, both 37, is “all smiles and really happy, nothing fazes her”, said her proud dad.

Daniel added: “Pippa has cerebral palsy and it affects her motor skills. It affects her being able to move.”

The constraint therapy process tries to encourage her to use her affected side of her body, the right side, more, said Daniel.

Daniel and John set off from the Clock Tower at Seaton Carew on Saturday and Daniel, who works as a personal trainer, explained why he did it, saying: “I think Miles For Men is amazing,”

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