Scores of people in our area have already signed up for Walking With The Wounded’s annual Christmas campaign, Walking Home For Christmas, in a bid to have fun, get fit and put a twinkle back into the eyes of our former servicemen and women.
They will join thousands of people across the UK pulling on their walking boots and Santa hats to have an adventure on their doorsteps, be it 1 mile or 100. Every walk helps raise crucial funds for homeless and vulnerable veterans with physical, mental or social injuries.
Last year walks totalled more than 5,000 miles and the campaign raised enough to support more than 250 vulnerable veterans through the charity’s programmes to re-integrate them back into society and regain their independence.
This year walkers also have the option to sign up as a ‘captain’ and host a walk in their area. Many are already listed on the WWTW website..
WWTW Director of Fundraising Andrew Cook said: “Many of our ex-military personnel face a Christmas and New Year without much sparkle. We are so grateful to the huge numbers of you who accept our challenge to stride out on their behalf before Christmas, in a determined bid to help us put the twinkle back into their and their families’ eyes.”
Ideas For Your Walk
• The Long Haul – Go large and surprise yourself and a relative
• The workplace challenge – Teambuilding or client engaging!
• School’s out – Walk home from school or uni with parents or friends
• The Team Outing – Walk to a pub for dinner
• The Ingenious Idea – Hand deliver a present or carry a Christmas tree home
• The Train-ing Plan – Get off the train a stop early
• The (long) dog walk – Take the lead and have an adventure
How Your Donations Make a Difference
• £800 will support a veteran through Project Nova
• £675 is the average cost for a course of therapy sessions through Head Start
• £2,61 is the average award for a beneficiary going through First Steps
• £706.56 was the average cost in 2015 for each beneficiary
in the Home Straight programme
How to Enter
• Sign up for £10 +postage at wwtw.org.uk/Christmas
• Get sent your Santa hat and pack, plan your walk and tell your friends
• Walk anywhere, any distance challenging for you, anytime from 1st – 26th December
• #WalkingHomeForChristmas
