NEWS
Read the latest updates and view archived articles from Walking With The Wounded's 'Walking Home Home For Christmas' December campaign.
Tidworth soldiers and veterans join forces this Christmas for multi-day fundraising challenge
By Media Team on
A team of serving soldiers, reservists and veterans are taking on a mammoth fundraising challenge in aid of our annual fundraising campaign, Walking Home For Christmas.
Andrew White, who served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 31 years and is now a Full Time Reservist, and friend Jamie Clibery, who began his military career in 2002 as a Vehicle Mechanic and now serves in the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, are taking part in the charity’s annual Walking Home For Christmas campaign for the fifth year running.
Determined to make their fundraising bigger and better each year, this year the team will be taking on not one but three challenges. Beginning with a charity football match on 8th November at Tidworth Oval followed by a charity golf day on 11th November, with the two events already raising over £600. The team will then end their fundraising by returning to Tidworth Oval to walk 48 miles in 48 hours from the 10th – 12th December.
Speaking on their reasons for taking on the challenge, Andrew said:
“Over the last 31 years, I have served in locations around the world where I have lost friends and colleagues and known some to have life changing injuries. I was chatting with Jay Clibery four years ago about Walking With The Wounded and he asked if I would like to take part in fundraising for them. I did not hesitate and haven’t looked back since. I feel immensely proud to be able to do something for this amazing charity and we want to raise as much as we can. For anyone thinking about doing something for WWTW, the key message is to stop thinking and start doing. It doesn’t matter if the event is small or large, the point is doing something for our veterans who have given so much to our country and every penny really does count.”
Teammate Jamie added:
“This is a charity which has been close to my heart for the last five years having held a fundraiser every year since 2021. The work they do supporting serving personnel transition or just giving them a helping hand is, in my opinion, invaluable. Sometimes all it takes is someone to talk to and give you a steer to get you back on your feet and that is what WWTW does, with the people working for them who are not only fully engaged and supportive but understand. If you’re able to, join in and support WWTW in whatever capacity you can, every little helps raise much needed funds and helps promote the work the charity does.”
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Footsore, exhausted but ecstatic: 700km challenge finishes in Newcastle
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Celebrations as Long Way Home reaches the culmination of its 18-day challenge, walking 700km from central London to central Newcastle, pulling the pulk the whole way. The pulk is deeply embedded in our history and heritage and accompanied a group of wounded veterans, joined by Prince Harry, in 2011 as they undertook the first expedition of its kind to the North Pole.
Long Way Home leader and Head of Events and Partnerships at WWTW, James Davis said: “That expedition proved that the sky was the limit for those wounded in the service of their country and showed the world what veterans can do. If you tell a veteran they can’t do something they will promptly go out and do it! From that expedition Walking With The Wounded was born and a key...
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...