Sally Orange MBE Takes the Helm as Walking Home For Christmas Ambassador
By Media Team on
Major (Retired) Sally Orange MBE, a distinguished Veteran, multiple World Record Holder and Armed Forces Champion, has been proudly unveiled as the Ambassador for Walking With The Wounded's (WWTW) Walking Home For Christmas campaign.
Now entering its 10th year, "Walking Home For Christmas" stands as Walking With The Wounded's annual festive fundraising initiative. Over the past decade, this campaign has collectively raised nearly 2 million to bolster veterans and their families through programs encompassing mental health support, employment opportunities, and care coordination services.
Sally Orange commenced her military journey in 1998 as a member of the Royal Army Medical Corps, where she served as a physiotherapist for 22 years. Her...
Walking Home For Christmas 2023: Run, Trek, March
By Events on
Every year, amazing supporters take on our Walking Home For Christmas challenge, collectively raising funds to aid veterans and their families. Whether it is the journey from the workplace to home, embarking on a challenging hundred-mile march, or carrying a Christmas tree through the heart of a bustling city, we have curated a selection of previous fundraiser ideas to ignite your imagination for your 2023 challenge.
The 100 Mile Stretcher: Having participated in WHFC for the past few years, Michael concluded that a 100-mile walk did not quite match the level of endurance his trainees needed for pursuing a career in the Armed Forces. In 2020, his team decided to elevate the stakes by embarking on a 100-mile journey, circling York...
10 Ways To Increase Your Fundraising This Christmas
By Fundraising on
During this festive season, we understand that finances can be tight for everyone, that is why we want to highlight 10 ways to boost your donation efforts for Walking Home For Christmas:
1. Gift Aid: Don't forget to encourage everyone to claim Gift Aid on their donations, and if you're eligible, make sure to claim it for your contributions as well. At no extra cost to anyone, this allows an additional 25p to be added to every pound donated. Every one of those pennies goes directly toward assisting veterans and their families who need our support to rebuild their lives.
2. Matched Funding: An increasing number of organisations are willing to match the funds you raise. The best part is that it won't cost you or your supporters anything...
Bryn's Story
By Walking With The Wounded on
Bryn served as an Infantryman in the elite 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment (1 PARA), part of the Special Forces Support Group. He was regularly deployed on operations - to Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan – and he was fulfilled by his achievements as a soldier.
After 10 years of active duty however, the physical demands of the role took its toll, and he experienced pain and damage to both his ankles. As he was no longer able to train or go on operations, he accepted that it was time to hang up his Army boots.
Unphased by the transition to civilian life, Bryn quickly transferred his military expertise into a career in private security. He secured contracts to protect senior US government officials as they...
Kane's Story
By Walking With The Wounded on
After Kane’s military career came to a sudden end, he had no idea what to do next. Without any direction in life, he felt stuck and increasingly disillusioned. Over time, he decided that he was most suited to working outdoors and he focused his energy into achieving his goal. WWTW supported Kane into a new career in Arboriculture. They provided him with help, encouragement, and the funding that he needed to get his professional training and apply for work. Now Kane has a great job as an Arborist with a leading utilities service company.
“Upon leaving the Army I was really stuck in a rut and didn’t know what to do. The turning point was meeting Lynsey at WWTW. She gave me so much help and support along the way and now I have landed myself...
Coleg Gents Smash The South Wales Three Peaks Trail
By Events on
Huge well done to Matthew Collier, Ethan Bromwell and Keanan Frayne, who smashed the South Wales Three Peaks trail in some truly atrocious weather conditions over the weekend for Walking Home For Christmas. With some stunning views and the knowledge that their money is going to good use supporting veterans who served, they braved the elements and completed their challenge safely! You can still support them here: https://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/teams/coleg-gents
RBL Tidworth FC Brings It Home
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Fresh from walking 23 miles back to Tidworth garrison on Friday (and going via Stonehenge) the team from RBL Tidworth FC finished off their efforts in style on Saturday by hosting a whole day of fundraising for families, with childrens activities in the afternoon and adults in the evening. From raffle tickets, to a silent auction, no stone was left unturned by the team, ably led by WO2 Jay Clibery and an astonishing 5k plus has been raised, with money still coming in. The team were graciously hosted by the local Royal British Legion and this is a truly heartwarming story of the Armed Forces family coming together as one to support their own. https://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/teams/rbl-tidworth-fc-2
Morag's 30 Mile Challenge
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A big shout out to Morag from Devon, who is going to be walking 30 miles on December 16th, taking in a number of war memorials en route. Morag has been out on local radio drumming up support for the cause and we couldnt be prouder of her efforts - good luck with the walk and we hope its a just a little warmer for you!
Support Morag's efforts to get ex military personnel and their families who have fallen on hard times back on their feet here: https://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/users/morag-hughes
Lee's Bothy Challenge!
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Massive props to Lee Jordan who is really living and breathing the challenge element of Walking Home For Christmas! Imagine - sleeping in the most Easterly Mountain Bothy in the UK each night for the past 9 nights, up near Balmoral in -21, to do your bit... well Lee, ex RAF made this pledge before the weather forecast swung rather dramatically for the worse. But he served, knows the value of others service and he wanted to do something extraordinary to help raise funds to support those who need a helping hand having hit a bump in the road.
He started walking into the bothy after work. Then switched to snow shoes and finally to skis.... leaning into the howling wind, sticking to his pledge when it would have been easy and...