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16 Dec 25. Gregg Stevenson, paralympic gold medallist, joined military charity, Walking With The Wounded (WWTW), on Monday 15th December as it arrived at the Manchester Cenotaph, 423km into its mammoth 18-day, 700km trek from The Cenotaph in London to Newcastle, pulling a symbolic pulk (Arctic sled) ‘home’ in time for Christmas.
- The intrepid teams have faced poor weather, Storm Bram, mud, multiple punctures and equipment failures, but determination has kept them walking.
- Each team takes on one day of the challenge, averaging 40kms per day during ‘Long Way Home’, with the Manchester leg being 37km.
- The pulk (sled) represents the burdens that many veterans have to carry every single day.
- Long Way Home is WWTW’s own entry into annual Walking Home For Christmas event.
At 8am on Friday 5th December, military charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW), set off at the start of an epic walking challenge launched by veteran and star of TV’s ‘Hunted’ and ‘Celebrity Hunted’, Nichola Tidd. A mammoth 18-day, 700km trek from The Cenotaph, London began, bringing the symbolic pulk home to Newcastle by 22nd December, in time for Christmas. The trek – Long Way Home – is part of WWTW’s popular annual Walking Home For Christmas event. Gregg Stevenson, a trustee of the charity, joined for the final rain-drenched kilometres into central Manchester. On the challenge and the charity he said: “The special thing about Walking With The Wounded is they do exactly what they say…it’s about supporting people who have come across hard times, so thank you very much for your support. This whole mission represents the veteran community WWTW supports – its resilience, pushing ourselves and having a bit of fun and camaraderie along the way.” Walking With The Wounded’s annual Christmas fundraiser challenges the charity’s supporters to take on a sponsored walk with family, friends or colleagues. Every penny raised goes to support veterans and their families. For many, winter and Christmas are a time to celebrate with loved ones, but for some of the veterans WWTW supports, that isn’t their reality. Instead, winter can be a difficult time for them. For over 10 years, Walking Home For Christmas has connected communities throughout the UK, all with the same aim: to support those who served. At the launch at The Cenotaph in London on 5th December, Ambassador Nichola Tidd said: “I wanted to give something back and I’m delighted that myself and my daughter, Elodie, can be a part of Walking Home For Christmas this year, and also Long Way Home, which so gets to the heart of what WWTW stands for.” Nichola and Elodie have joined Long Way Home for a number of legs, and will be joining as it reaches the end in Newcastle on 22nd December.
05 Dec 25. It’s coming home! Aldershot and Farnborough will host UK National Armed Forces Day celebrations 2026. Rushmoor borough has today (5 December 2025) been awarded the prestigious honour of hosting the 2026 National Armed Forces Day celebrations. The event was awarded to the borough, which includes Aldershot, the Home of the British Army and Farnborough, the birthplace of British aviation, following a highly competitive UK-wide bidding process. The programme will culminate in a weekend of spectacular events and celebrations on 27 and 28 June 2026 profiling our armed forces and bringing the community together through a range of free festivities and family fun, which is expected to attract thousands of visitors from the surrounding area and across the country.
Alex Baker, MP for Aldershot and Farnborough, said: “I’m proud that, working alongside Rushmoor Borough Council, we’ve brought Armed Forces Day home. As the Home of the British Army and the birthplace of British aviation, it is entirely fitting that Aldershot and Farnborough lead the nation in renewing our bond with the men and women in the military, and with the cadets and veterans who are part of our story. This is our chance to honour the generations who have served, celebrate those who protect our country today, and inspire the young people who will follow in their footsteps. It will feature a spectacular weekend of free events, displays, and family activities that will draw our whole community together and attract thousands of visitors from the surrounding area to leave a legacy of pride and renewal. Aldershot and Farnborough will welcome visitors from across the nation to show what makes our towns so special – places where service is woven into everyday life, and where the country’s thanks will be expressed here, at home.”
Talavera Junior School in Aldershot was treated to a special visit by the British Armed Forces for the announcement. A Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter landed on the school field, and students were entertained by a performance from the British Army Engagement Ensemble and given the opportunity to explore the helicopter and speak with the crew.
The Armed Forces Day flag was also raised at Rushmoor Borough Council offices in Farnborough and at Princes Hall in Aldershot to mark the exciting news.
Joining forces: Tidworth soldiers and veterans take on multi-day fundraising challenge
Three challenges tackled, to support veterans facing challenges every day
17 Dec 25. Walking With The Wounded (WWTW)
- Serving soldiers, reservists and veterans have taken on a multi-day fundraising challenge in support of military charity Walking With The Wounded
- Fifth consecutive year for team taking part in WWTW’s popular annual ‘Walking Home For Christmas’ campaign
- Three challenges tackled, including a 48-hour finale to support veterans and their families
A team of serving soldiers, reservists and veterans took on a mammoth fundraising challenge in aid of military charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) between November and 11th December as part of Walking Home For Christmas campaign.
Andrew White, who served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 31 years and is now a Full Time Reservist, and friend Jamie Clibery, who began his military career in 2002 as a Vehicle Mechanic and now serves in the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, were joined by colleagues and friends to take part in the charity’s annual Walking Home For Christmas campaign for the fifth year running.
Determined to make their fundraising bigger and better each year, this year the team took on not one but three challenges. Beginning with a charity football match on 8th November at Tidworth Oval followed by a charity golf day on 11th November, with the two events already raising over £600. The team then ended their fundraising by returning to Tidworth Oval to walk 48 miles in 48 hours from the 10th – 12th December.
Speaking on their reasons for taking on the challenge, Andrew said: “Over the last 31 years, I have served in locations around the world where I have lost friends and colleagues and known some to have life-changing injuries. I was chatting with Jay (Clibery) four years ago about Walking With The Wounded and he asked if I would like to take part in fundraising for them. I didn’t hesitate and haven’t looked back since. I feel immensely proud to be able to do something for this amazing charity and we want to raise as much as we can for them. For anyone thinking about doing something for WWTW, the key message is to stop thinking and start doing! It doesn’t matter if the event is small or large, the point is doing something for our veterans who have given so much to our country and every penny really does count.”
Teammate Jamie added: “This is a charity which has been close to my heart for the last five years having held a fundraiser every year since 2021. The work they do supporting serving personnel transitioning out of service or just giving them a helping hand is, in my opinion, invaluable. Sometimes all it takes is someone to talk to and give you a steer to get you back on your feet and that is what WWTW does, with the people working for them who are not only fully engaged and supportive but understand. If you’re able to, join in and support WWTW in whatever capacity you can, every little helps raise much needed funds and helps promote the work the charity does.”
For many, winter and Christmas are a time to celebrate with loved ones, but for some of the veterans WWTW supports, that isn’t their reality. Instead, winter can be a difficult time for them.
Please contact Su Delve, Communications Manager, on or call her on 07741 570 130 or 07799 578 840 to arrange an interview, or to request copies of the images.
About Walking Home For Christmas:
Walking With The Wounded’s annual Christmas fundraiser challenges the charity’s supporters to take on a sponsored walk with family, friends or colleagues at any time throughout December. Every penny raised goes to support veterans and their families.
There is still time to get involved:
- Sign up for free at https://walking-home.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/
Walking With The Wounded
Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) supports those who have served in the military with mental health, employment and wraparound care coordination programmes. Through bespoke and interconnected services, the charity helps those who have fallen the furthest to get back on track and moving forward once more.
WWTW stands side-by-side to help their beneficiaries on their path back to civilian life, dealing with any physical, mental, social or financial challenges along the way. Specialised caseworkers deliver face-to-face support tailored to each person’s unique needs, backgrounds and challenges.
The charity’s approach and services continue to evolve to meet the real needs of those who have served and their families. Known for their trusted programmes, and with data showing their value and impact (externally validated).
WWTW has unique expertise in providing support for ex-Forces with complex needs across the UK, including Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Visit: www.walkingwiththewounded.org.uk
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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity, has been providing lifelong support to our Forces and their families since 1885. In 2020, our teams of volunteers and employees helped more than 79,000 people in need, the
currently serving (both regulars and reserves), veterans from the Second World War and those who have served in more recent conflicts, as well as their families. SSAFA understands that behind every uniform is a person. And we are here for that person – any time they need us, in any way they need us, for as long as they need us.
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/about-us
https://www.ssafa.org.uk/support-us
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