NEWS
Read the latest updates and view archived articles from Walking With The Wounded's 'Walking Home Home For Christmas' December campaign.
Stevenage veteran who recently learnt to walk again joins Walking Home
By Media Team on
Mark Williams, an Army Veteran from Stevenage, is planning to cover 28 miles between the 15 and 22 December for Walking Home this year, walking for four hours each day.
Mark served in the Army for 16 years and spent 10 years housebound due to a debilitating spinal injury. His recovery was further set back when he suffered from sepsis in 2022. Despite these challenges, Mark has made remarkable progress with his recovery and rehabilitating, recently starting to walk again without the use of walking aids. He plans to use his Walking Home challenge to inspire others facing similar challenges and raise vital funds for Walking With The Wounded.
Speaking on his motivation for taking part in the challenge, Mark said: “I spent 16 years in the Army, so it is a cause close to my heart. I suffer from a spine injury, and then in 2022 I had sepsis which made things even more difficult, but since then I’ve been motivated to do my best to rehabilitate myself. Through doing so, I’ve recently started to be able to walk again without walking aids, so now want to take on this challenge to help others mentally and physically. I will be doing two laps daily of the old training loop I used when training for the army, carrying an extra weight of 5kg for the first lap each day. It won’t be easy as parts of the route are quite steep, but for some of the challenge I will also be joined by some friends, veterans, Royal Marines, Royal Anglian, Ex-Guardsmen and anyone else who would like to join.”
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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:...