Walking Home For Christmas Survey Results In
By Media Team on
Have we lost our love of lockdown walking?
Fewer than 1 in 3 of us walk everyday in winter
A new survey finds that fewer than 1 in 3 (29%) of the UK adult population walk every day in winter – and astonishingly 10% never go for a walk. The research, from Walking Home For Christmas, the annual Christmas fundraising campaign run by military veteran support charity, Walking With The Wounded, also found that 84% of us watch TV at Christmas, compared to 63% who go for that traditional walk after dinner.
But when it comes to improving health and wellbeing, 68% would consider trying to go on a regular walk - compared to 1 in 10 (11%) interested in group fitness classes and 1 in 5 (22%) who would think about joining a gym.
Walking really is the...
Carly’s story
By Walking With The Wounded on
Carly joined the Army in June 2012. When the initial 14-16 weeks of basic training commenced Carly immediately began to experience symptoms of anxiety, feeling panicky. When the PT session came round Carly recollects standing in the ablutions in floods of tears brought on by the mere thought of the obstacle course. Eventually Carly was discharged from the Army in September 2013, just 15 months after joining. In 2015 Carly suffered a breakdown and sought treatment through her GP. In August 2017 Carly met with an Employment Adviser from Walking With The Wounded who Carly refers to as "brilliant from day one". After initial successes, In January 2018 Carly began to once again experience feelings of anxiety and self-doubt and...
Paul's story
By Walking With The Wounded on
Paul served for 23 years in the RAF, mainly in the Bomb Disposal Unit, but his job exposed him to prolonged danger and repeated traumatic events, and his mental health suffered as a result. During Paul’s first tour abroad, he started to experience panic attacks and he was sent back to the UK with suspected Acute Stress Reaction. As a committed team member, he felt guilty and ashamed that he had left his colleagues and he asked to be sent back to Iraq to re-join his unit. The second and third tours followed and Paul was exposed to further trauma and started to suffer from anxiety and depression and to experience intense and disturbing flashbacks. To try to hide the symptoms of PTSD and to manage his mental health, Paul self-medicated with...
Craig's 56 mile yomp for Walking Home For Christmas!
By Events on
An Army Veteran of 33 years, Craig Roxby is very familiar with the challenges the Armed Forces face and wants to give something back this Christmas by supporting Walking With The Wounded.
On the 16 December 2021 he'll depart Blackburn along the Leeds Liverpool Canal to Appletreewick (N Yorkshire); a total distance of 56 miles. He plans to complete this in 36hrs, walking 2 large legs and concluding with a 14 mile leg on day 3 and has kindly said that anyone who wishes to join him on his walk is very welcome!
You can see what Craig is upto and support him here: https://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/users/craig-roxby
Cygnet Health Step Out For Walking Home!
By Media Team on
Back by popular demand...
Cygnet Health has been a fabulous supporter of Walking Home For The Christmas in the past and after a years' break, Operations Director Barry Swire and CEO Tony Romero are back for more in 2021! Coordinating walks across the UK, Cygnet was also famous in 2019 for their walk from London down to Portsmouth. This year they're tying in Walking With The Wounded directly, with Barry and Tony going from our office in Manchester to their site in Bury and are keeping their fingers and toes crossed for good weather! Support them here: https://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/teams/cygnet-health
Afghanistan Veteran Matthew undertakes 24 Marathon!
By Events on
Local veteran, Matthew, based in Wiltshire, will be taking on the challenge of walking for 24 hours to raise money for ex-military and their families as part of Walking With The Wounded’s Christmas campaign, Walking Home For Christmas. On December 16th, Matthew will take on the momentous challenge, supported by Damon Saddler the Personal Development Manager, and will be joined for parts of the route by residents and other staff from Entrain Space which offers supported accommodation to ex-military, helping them transition into civilian life.
Commenting on the challenge, Matthew said, “I joined the Army in 2009 and really enjoyed my Army career. I was deployed to Afghanistan twice and everything seemed fine until I returned to the UK in...
Paul's 55-Mile Walk in Manchester
By Events on
On December 13th, Paul, a veteran based in Manchester will take part in Walking With The Wounded’s (‘WWTW’), Walking Home For Christmas campaign to raise vital funds to support those who served.
Paul joined the Armed Forces when he was 16 and served in The Royal Signals. He was involved in operational tours in Northern Ireland and Bosnia and although Paul mostly enjoyed his career in the Army, some moments and experiences had a lasting impact on him.
Paul is taking part in Walking Home For Christmas to help raise money to support veteran’s mental health. He said, “I have supported Walking With The Wounded for several years and have taken part in their past fundraising events. I signed-up for Walking Home For Christmas to give something...
Suffolk ACF Deputy Commandant walks 100miles
By Events on
This December, Lieutenant Colonel, Robert Simpkin, who is based in Suffolk, will take on a momentous 100-mile sponsored walk to support Walking With The Wounded’s Walking Home For Christmas campaign. Robert has been involved in the Army Cadet Force (ACF) for 17 years and has 2 children, who both serve in the ACF and the British Armed Forces.
Commenting on his Walking Home For Christmas challenge, Robert said, “I originally got involved with Walking Home For Christmas last year through the Army Cadet Force (ACF). We encouraged our Cadets to get involved because it is great for them to volunteer and raise money for the wider Military family. It also presented a great opportunity to get the Cadets out in the fresh air and keeping active.
...
'Walting' Home For Christmas
By Events on
On December 18th, a team of 11 veterans and currently serving servicemen, will take on a phenomenal challenge as they walk 45.7 miles from Chesterfield to the Cenotaph in Manchester, carrying 45.7lbs (the equivalent of carrying a Men’s Olympic barbell) to commemorate the 457 Armed Forces personnel who died in Afghanistan.
James Holt, the team leader, served in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Estonia. He is currently serving as a Reservist and recently supported Op Rescript, the Armed Forces support for the Covid-19 pandemic. He commented, “I have volunteered for WWTW a few times and think it is important that our veteran brothers and sisters get the support they need, you’re only a soldier for so long, but you are a veteran forever.
I am...