First stop GWH - seven men, 400km, 12 days of Walking Home For Christmas

By Jamie Hill - 27 November 2020

Charity

With the first stop being GWH, leading Military charity Walking With The Wounded’s Grenadier Walk of Oman team will be getting their training steps in by splitting a 400km walk over 12 days to raise money to help support ex-military men and women facing mental health battles this Christmas.

Taking place between 28th November, with a walk to GWH, and finishing on the 13th December, each team member will aim to walk 66 km in their local region, as part of the Walking Home For Christmas campaign.

 

The team of ex-military and one currently serving, were due to take part in a three week, 400km trek across the Omani desert on 20th November but due to the Covid-19 crisis it has been postponed to February 2021. However, the guys won’t be hanging up their boots and hibernating in a hurry, they’ll be bringing the walk home and encouraging others to participate in their local areas.

 

Walking Home For Christmas 2020 is seeing a record number of people signing up this year to do a walk somewhere important to them, wherever they are.  It is aiming to support 200 ex-servicemen and women who are socially isolated, struggling with their mental health, homeless or caught in police custody as a result of poor mental health and get them back into employment and independence.

 

As two of the Grenadier Walk of Oman team members are currently carrying injuries, Walk of Oman trek Team Leader Pete Newland and Grenadier Walk of Oman Team Mentor, Luke Hepworth will be filling their boots to make up the 400km and help raise the funds needed during these difficult times.

 

Ed Parker, CEO of WWTW said: “The Grenadier Walk of Oman team have been training incredibly hard for the Expedition, despite the challenges they have faced from the pandemic.  Although the Expedition being postponed until February 2021, each of the team will continue to keep the steps up by participating in this year’s Walking Home For Christmas campaign and raising vital funds for

 

WWTW’s mental health and employment programmes. Unfortunately, two members of the core team are carrying injuries but Expedition Team Leader, Pete Newland and Expedition Team Mentor, Luke Hepworth, are privileged to be able to step in and help the team out for such an important cause.”

 

The team will consist of David Adams, Brian O’Neill, Ben McComb, Andy Phillips, Pete Newland, Luke Hepworth and Sean Gane.

 

The routes will be as follows –

 

November 28th-29th

  • Andy Phillips-
    • Day 1, Malmesbury to the Great Western Hospital
    • Day 2, RAF Fairford to Malmesbury

November 30th-December 1st

  • Ben McComb
    • Day 1, Catterick Garrison to Metcalfe Farm
    • Day 2, same route as above

December 4th-5th

  • Brian O’Neill
    • Day 1, circular route from Wivenhoe to Lower Castle Park
    • Day 2, same route as above

December 5th 

  • Pete Newland
    • Day 1, running 66km across the Brecon Beacons

December 6th-7th

  • Dave Adams
    • circular route from Wokingham to Sandhurst
    • Day 2, same route as above

December 8th-9th

  • Luke Hepworth,
    • Day 1 - Manly Beach to Sydney Central Business District
    • Day 2 – Bondi Beach to Sydney Harbour Bridge

December 12-13th 

  • Sean Gane
    • Day 1- Steam Mill- New Forest
    • Day 2- Steam Mill- New Forest

Team bios:

  • David Adams David spent 13 years as an Aircraft Technician in the REME, serving in the UK, Afghanistan, Cyprus and Oman. David was medically discharged after a diagnosis of PTSD, following traumatic events whilst serving in Afghanistan.
  • Ben McComb - Ben joined the Army Reserves in October 2005 and served as a Private Solider until 2011, during which time he was selected for officer training. In 2011, he commenced regular officer training at RMAS and commissioned into the Royal Artillery. Ben has neural impingement and nerve damage in his lower limbs which is incurable. However, his condition is stable due to continuous self-rehabilitation management.
  • Brian O’Neill – Brian joined the armed forces in 1990 aged 17 and served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Royal Military Police and Military Provost Staff Regiment. Brian served in 7 operational tours including Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan and achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant during his 26 years of serving in the armed forces. He found the transition from military to civilian life exceptionally difficult.
  • Andrew Phillips – Having served in the Royal Air Force from 1983 – 1993 as a Junior Technician, Andrew was injured in the build-up to the Gulf War and eventually received a medical discharge due to a spinal cord injury. Struggling with the transition from military to civilian life, he became involved in the Invictus Games which helped him regain focus and a positive outlook on life.
  • Pete Newland – Pete is an ultra-endurance athlete. He completes ultra-endurance races and expeditions. Pete will be heading out with the team in February as the Team Leader for the Expedition.
  • Luke Hepworth- Luke is the Grenadier Walk of Oman Team Mentor and an Adventure Philanthropist. With each challenge Luke raises funds and awareness for his chosen charities. Extreme sports and multi discipline endurance expeditions include skiing to the South Pole, climbing Mount Vinson Antarctica and the World Marathon Challenge (7 marathons, in 7 days on 7 continents (for 7 charities).
  • Sean Gane- Sean joined the Armed Forces in 1986 as an Infantryman. He served for 12 years between 1986 and 2014, leaving and later re-joining. He served on operational tours including Afghanistan and served his last tour in 2009. It was during this last tour Sean witnessed many traumatic events and was later diagnosed with PTSD and hearing and nerve damage. He was medically discharged in 2014.

 

Signing up for Walking Home For Christmas is easy and free – just log on to www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com and register for your fundraising pack.

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