Teesside presenter Jeff Stelling starts Wembley trek at Victoria Park
The Hartlepool United fan says he couldn't have started the trek anywhere but his home club
Teesside sports presenter Jeff Stelling is walking 10 marathons in 10 days in a bid to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
The Sky Sports star has teamed up with Prostate Cancer UK to tackle the 262 miles from his childhood club Hartlepool United to Wembley.
He'll be facing the challenge with close friend and Hartlepool Chief Executive Russ Green.
For the first day of the challenge in Teesside, the 61-year-old was joined by Pools boss Craig Hignett, ex-England midfielder Ray Wilkins and broadcaster, journalist and former political aide Alistair Campbell.
They left Victoria Park at 8am and will travel through West Meadows and Cowpen Bewley, over the Transporter Bridge and to the Riverside Stadium.
The walk is expected to finish at Marske at teatime.
The Soccer Saturday presenter will stop at 32 football clubs on the way to Wembley and will be joined by a number of famous friends.
He told TFM: "Football is the perfect target audience to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
"The walk takes in 30-odd football clubs and I couldn't start anywhere else but Victoria Park.
"I've been coming here since I was seven so this was the ideal starting point.
“It was great to link up with friends old and new as myself and Russ started our long walk south, all in aid of a fantastic cause. “I deal in statistics - but the ones we are dealing with here are shocking.
"One man dies every hour from this disease, that’s six in the course of Soccer Saturday every week.
"One in eight men will get prostate cancer, and for black men the odds are even worse at one in four.
"Two Sky colleagues and good friends Eddie Hemmings and Bill Arthur have suffered from this disease. “But there is reason for optimism.
"Within the next ten years Prostate Cancer UK believes they will find the answers to make this disease something men and their loved ones no longer fear."
Angela Culhane, Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer UK, said: “Jeff’s been a huge supporter of ours for many years, and has seen first hand the dangers of this disease through some of his closest friends in the business, and we are fully behind him on his epic Men United March. “Walking 10 marathons in 10 days is a remarkable challenge and we salute everyone from the North East who have walked and supporter Jeff and Russ.
"With each and every step Jeff and those who support him will help us as we tackle prostate cancer head on."
To support Jeff, and find out more about his challenge, visit menunitedmarch.org