NEWS
Read the latest updates and view archived articles from Walking With The Wounded's 'Walking Home Home For Christmas' December campaign.
Joe completes 77 mile walk 'home'
By Media Team on
Joe Swift, a Walking With The Wounded supporter and Walking Home participant, recently completed a 77-mile walk in memory of his father, who he sadly lost 30 years ago.
Joe’s dad served in the Armed Forces, and Joe describes him as being the ‘perfect role model’ for him and his sister when they were children. Joe was motivated to take on the challenge after hearing about the work Walking With The Wounded do to provide veterans with tailored mental health support within 7 miles of their home. With this in mind, Joe made the decision to walk from his hometown, Burton-on-Trent, to his father’s hometown, Wigan, a journey of 77 miles.
Speaking on his walk and the challenges he faced along the way, Joe said: “As someone who receives therapy themselves, I know how much it can help, so I was motivated to support Walking With The Wounded and the work they do to provide veterans with the support they need. I set off on the morning of Friday 15th November, with the aim of making it to Wigan in time for the Burton Albion vs Wigan Athletic match at 3pm on Saturday 16th. I found a little BMX for £25 along the way and picked that up to help me cover some miles, until it gave up just outside Stoke-On-Trent! Walking through the night was a bit of a challenge as I didn’t have a map and my phone kept dying, but the kindness of strangers along the way helped me to reach my final destination in time, although the match ended up being postponed!”
Martin Lynn, Events Delivery Officer at Walking With The Wounded, added, “When Joe phoned me that morning telling me he’d set off on his walk and planned to do it in one go, I was astonished! Support like this shows just how much people appreciate the work that we do as a charity in supporting veterans and their families. We are extremely grateful to all of our supporters who fundraise for WWTW, helping us to continue providing our vital services.”
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Halewood Battalion Cadets take on 60km Lake District challenge for veterans
By Media Team on
Cadets from the Halewood Battalion laced up their boots and headed for the Lake District as they completed a demanding 60km walk in support of Walking Home For Christmas.
Now in their third consecutive year of taking part, the group of eight cadets travelled to the fells with a clear goal: to push themselves beyond their comfort zones whilst raising vital funds for veterans and their families during the winter months.
The challenge was not without its obstacles. Battling poor weather conditions on the summit of the Old Man of Coniston on the first day, the cadets showed determination and teamwork as they pressed on.
One of the group, Thomas Harper, reflected on why the challenge means so much to them: “Many of us have family members who...
RAF veteran completes 48km pulk pull in support of fellow veterans
By Media Team on
RAF veteran Derek Heron has completed an impressive 48km walk in support of Walking Home For Christmas, taking on the challenge to raise funds and awareness for fellow veterans.
Having served for 22 years in the RAF, Derek joined the Walking With The Wounded team on 18 December for our Long Way Home challenge, where he pulled our historic pulk. The demanding challenge tested both physical endurance and mental resilience – but Derek was more than ready to rise to it.
Derek was inspired to get involved after taking part in WWTW’s Cumbrian Challenge earlier this summer. Motivated by our mission and the stories of veterans we support, he was keen to step up once again and give back.
Reflecting on the challenge, Derek said: “After a 22-year...
Oldest tank regiment in the world marches 108km in 24 hours for veterans
By Media Team on
Members of the Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) proved that grit, determination and teamwork are as strong as ever as they completed a gruelling 24-hour walk in support of our Walking Home For Christmas campaign.
Setting off on 9 December from their Regimental Headquarters in Tidworth, the soldiers pushed themselves to the limit, covering an incredibly 108km on foot. Their destination was Bovington – the regiment’s home and proudly known as its “spiritual home” – but the journey was anything but easy.
Battling relentless rain, strong winds and physical exhaustion, the team refused to let the harsh conditions slow them down. Morale stayed high throughout the night as they dug deep, supported one another and kept their purpose firmly in sight:...