When I left Mission Motorsports headquarters, I expected to have a lump in my throat. A team from the charity saw me off with tea and homemade cake, and my parents also came to provide emotional support.
But in the end, I felt excited. What I have been thinking, training and planning for the past 18 months has finally come true.
And I was enjoying myself as the first few miles through the Oxfordshire countryside passed gently beneath my feet in the surprisingly warm autumn sunshine.
But soon the ground began to become muddy – a harbinger of things to come.
Although I have good boots on, it was still difficult for me to navigate the path with my feet slipping. And it was even more difficult to choose a path across plowed fields, where the footpaths on the map were indistinguishable.
One field I trudged through felt like a wetland. However, my Hoka hiking boots did their job of keeping water out.
Unfortunately, what they could not contend with was the thigh-deep floodwaters surrounding the farm gate about a mile from the edge.
The detour would have added 3-4 miles. There was no other choice. I just had to get over it. As I struggled with the gate, muddy water spilled onto the tops of my boots. I sat on the other side and poured as much as I could.
The remainder of the first day was somewhat depressing, but nothing further happened until we arrived at the drilling site for the night. I put the boots under the heater, hoping in vain that they might be dry by the second day.
I knew my feet would be wet by the end of this trip, but I didn’t expect them to get wet so quickly.
You can support Alex’s work by donating to his Just Giving fundraiser
Why Alex participates in charity walks
My plan is to arrive on Anglesey in time for Remembrance Weekend, when Mission Motorsport will hold their annual Remembrance Race.
This is a very special event. The 12-hour race was paused for a memorial service on Sunday morning to honor the fallen and raise money to support veterans injured in the line of duty.
That’s what Mission Motorsports does. It was founded in 2012 by former tank commander James Cameron with the express purpose of supporting the military community through motorsport.
That may sound a bit vague, but having spent some time with people for whom it has helped, I’m very happy to say it’s not at all. The effect is also outstanding.
As Coach Cameron points out every time we meet, sports are a great way to bring people together. Through its work, Mission Motorsports helps veterans whose lives have been torn apart, whether it’s in terms of their physical or mental health, or by helping them build new careers and new lives overseas. It can give you space to rebuild. service.
In other words, Mission Motorsports helps pick up people who have been injured on the job, spent long periods in the hospital, and have fallen by the wayside. Not only does it give them a sense of purpose, it also provides a community of people who: Who can you empathize with because you are going through almost the same thing?
This charity has held great admiration for me as I have seen their work up close many times during my time as a motoring journalist. So when the memorial race had to be canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic and Mission Motorsports instead encouraged supporters to take on an endurance challenge of their own, the seed of an idea was planted. Noda.
The photo that accompanies this article will definitely prove that I am not an athletic person at all. I’m used to sitting at my desk at home, drinking tea, writing car reviews, and answering questions from readers about car ailments. It was a fascinating life, and it made me feel like I had to give something back.
But how? Running, cycling, climbing – I probably wasn’t going to complete a challenge involving any of these. Too comfortable life. But all I can do is walk. After all, I had managed to run a few miles with my dog each day, and I could certainly go a little farther, I thought.
How much time left? My original plan was to try the North Downs Way. But my ambitions grew. After all, people always walk that path just for the sake of it.
I had always wanted to go to the memorial race, but I couldn’t go in the end. But this was a great opportunity. I had no choice but to arrive on my own. I looked up the required distance and found it to be 250 miles, with some variation depending on the route. Wouldn’t it be possible to do it in 3 weeks?
Running the race for the 10th time seemed like the ideal opportunity, so the date of 2024 was set and training started 18 months in advance. My first “long” walk was a somewhat tiring 5 miles from my house to the next town. From there, I added a mile every few weeks until I finally reached my goal of 15 miles per day.
I also added the two practice walks mentioned earlier this year. Above all, these were proofs of concept. If you can survive 3 days in the sun, then 6 days, then maybe you can survive 3 weeks in the rain… OK, that’s still a bit bold, but not at a major charity event. Don’t have anything?
There is no doubt that this is difficult. But what drives me is the thought that for the people I want to support, it won’t be half as difficult as it has been.
What they went through to protect our country, our loved ones, and our way of life is unthinkable. With global events so volatile, we feel now, more than ever, is the perfect time to support those who have sacrificed so much with that purpose in mind.
Bookmark this page to see how I get on. I always read comments, so any words of support would be encouraging. Also follow @scrofwalks on Instagram. If you would like to donate to this wonderful cause, you can do so here: https://justgiving.com/page/alexwalks. thank you. Let’s meet again.
You can support Alex’s work by donating to his Just Giving fundraiser
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