In the Spotlight

Introducing those brave souls going the extra mile for The Soldiers’ Charity!

The inventive, inspiring and downright daring ways that people raise vital funds for The Soldiers’ Charity never ceases to amaze us. Help them by sponsoring the upcoming challenges.

If you are looking for inspiration, meet some of our fantastic fundraisers who have achieved their goals in the:

Hall of Fame

Photo credit: Telegraph & Argus

Challenge66

Nationwide
16 March – 20 May

Challenge66 will see Andy McMenemy, the son of a former soldier, challenge the Guinness World Record for consecutive endurance marathons with no rest days. The official record currently stands at 52, set by a Japanese runner. During Challenge66 Andy will run 66 Marathons in 66 Days, one from each of the 66 official Cities in the United Kingdom.

Andy explains why he is running Challenge66 for The Soldiers’ Charity.

Wenches in Trenches

France
21 October – 24 October

This October a group of loyal female supporters are doing a 21 mile sponsored walk in the Somme region of France entitled ‘Wenches in Trenches’! Following the frontline held by British troops in World War I, the walk starts in the town of Albert and the ladies will call at British cemeteries and memorials along the route to lay poppy crosses and honour our heroes from that era. The walk ends with a short ceremony at The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, a major war memorial to the 72,195 missing British and Commonwealth men who died in the Battle of the Somme and who have no known grave.

By walking this route, the ladies are truly bringing history to life. If any female supporters out there would like to join them then please contact Sue Robinson at cornwallABF@hotmail.co.uk or call 01736 448954

They ask that all walkers pledge to raise a minimum of £500.00 in sponsorship which will go directly to ABF The Soldiers’ Charity. Accommodation is either camping or hostel and vehicle and medical support will be provided en route. Rendezvous is at Dover Ferry Terminal at 9.00 on 21st October and return 24th October 2011.

Le EuroJog

Nationwide
19 August – beginning of Oct

Dave and Andy AKA The Yorkshire due are back!
Not content with running and cycling from Land’s End to John O’Groats and raising over £31,000 for the charity, they have taken on a new challenge. And it is even bigger..

The pair are running, cycling and kayaking from Yorkshire to Spain!

19 Aug Run and cycle from Leeds to Dover
29 Aug Kayak across the English Channel
5 Sep Run and cycle from Calais to West Paris
14 Sep Run and cycle to Orthez, France
16 Sep Cycle over the Pyrenees into Spain
1st week in Oct Edge of the Pyrenees in Spain to Gibraltar

The Yorkshire duo have put out a plea for some company along the way. If you can walk, run, jog or cycle then why not join them along part of the route? Just email Andy on andy@north.myzen.co.uk for further details.

Visit the Yorkshire Duo’s website to donate and read more

Madcop2: The Great European Row 2011

London to Poland, via the Ukraine
2011 Date TBC

Mad Cop returns with another brilliantly insane idea, ‘rowing’ a converted Clipper overland from London to Poland, via the Ukraine!

The vessel (below) has until recently been happily floating on Hawley Lake in Hampshire but is now being converted to work off a rowing machine and power the boat along the roads on wheels.

boat

Mad Cop was formed in 2009 by Andy Seery a Metropolitan Police Officer, after he received life changing surgery following a spinal injury. Having lost a family member during active military service and then seeing so many young lives turned upside down as a result of the conflict in Afghanistan, he decided to turn his own rehabilitation into something special and Mad Cop was born.

Visit the Mad Cop website to donate and read more

Run4Recovery

Nationwide
now – June 2011

Lt Col John Kerner’s Run4Recovery is a huge personal challenge of 16 running events over 16 months in order to raise a phenomenal £16,000 for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity.

Bar a few exceptions, each event will be longer and harder than the last, with a demanding 50 mile finale planned for Armed Forces day in June 2011. John has just completed event 12, The Brighton Trail Marathon, a gruelling 27 mile challenge! The world famous London Marathon is next on the horizon where John will be joining our team of other brilliant runners.

John is a serving Army officer involved with personnel recovery and realises that actions speak louder than words.

”Operational deaths in Iraq and more recently Afghanistan are well reported, but less so has been the ever increasing number of physical and mental injuries. For the men and women who are casualties, recovering their health will be the biggest challenge – far greater than the one I plan to undertake on their behalf. Please help me do my duty in support of those who have done theirs”

You can show your support by sponsoring him for a one off event, the whole challenge or by even organising your own Run4Recovery event to help him towards his £16,000 target!

Follow John’s progress on his blog or through his Facebook or JustGiving page.