The Walk of Britain team received a warm welcome at Headley Court defence rehabilitation centre as part of their 1,000-mile walk to raise funds to help wounded veterans into employment.
The Walking with the Wounded event consists of six wounded veterans undertaking the epic walk for the charity; the team arrived at Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) Headley Court in Surrey on October 29, completing that day’s walk.
They are almost at the end of their journey to Buckingham Palace, with only two days of walking remaining, after setting off from Scotland on August 22. The British veterans taking part are Matt Fisher, Alec Robotham, Stewart Hill and Scott Ransley.
The amount raised will facilitate education and employment opportunities for wounded veterans, which resonates significantly with DMRC’s work to enable optimal physical recovery which aids transition into civilian life. The charity supports all veterans with mental, physical or social injury to develop new careers outside the military and to secure a long-term future for themselves and their families.
Headley Court provided the walkers with home-baked cakes, washed-down with coffee and tea, before they were given a guided tour of the centre’s facilities.
Most of the veterans taking part spent time at Headley Court. Matt Fisher was posted to 3 Rifles in Edinburgh and was soon deployed on Operation Herrick 11. Whilst on a routine foot patrol, he sustained a gunshot wound to the foot on Boxing Day 2009. Matt spent time working at the Cadet Training Centre in Frimley Park in between rehabilitation sessions at Headley Court, and after a year of walking badly, made the decision to have his foot amputated. Matt married Maria six months later and completed the New York Marathon on foot.
Stewart Hill suffered a traumatic brain injury in July 2009 whilst commanding B Company, 2 MERCIAN in Afghanistan. He began painting a couple of years ago and finds it therapeutic and exciting - he is attending short art courses funded by the charity. This training will be the foundation for success as a professional artist. He said:
After 10 weeks of walking and something in the region of 5.5 million steps, I feel I have been able to give something back to Walking with the Wounded after they had been so helpful and supportive to me.
I have many fond memories from the walk, but one which stands out for me was the hospitality and entertainment we received from a true character, Sir Humphrey Wakefield, at his historic home Chillingham Castle in Northumberland. My life has been immensely enhanced by this experience.
Alec Robotham passed out of Royal Marines training in 2007, joining 40 Commando and training in various environments and exercises around the globe including amphibious assault training in the Mediterranean and jungle training in Brunei and Borneo. In 2010 he was badly injured in Afghanistan by a suicide bomber. He was left with multiple puncture wounds to both legs, a severed main artery in his right leg, puncture wounds to his left foot and right arm, a broken collar bone and hearing damage.
After 10 weeks of surgery and treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, he was transferred to Headley Court and then on to Hasler Company Royal Marines for two years. He said Walking with the Wounded has given him a purpose and hope for the future.
Scott Ransley joined the Royal Marines in 2008, serving with 42 Commando Lima Company on Operation Herrick 14 in 2011. Scott was close to an IED which was detonated by a close friend of his who sadly died in the incident. The explosion resulted in Scott losing the sight in his right eye. After being injured Scott was posted to Hasler Company Royal Marines for rehabilitation before being discharged in 2012.The Walk of Britain is the first big challenge he has undertaken since leaving service.
Charity patron Prince Harry has supported Walking with the Wounded since it was formed, taking part in the trek to the North Pole in 2011 and to the South Pole in 2013. He joined walkers for part of their latest journey.