Walk of Britain team enter God’s Own Country

Six wounded veterans, 1,000 miles, 72 days

Electrical wholesaler, YESSS Electrical, welcomed six veterans to God’s Own Country, Yorkshire, to mark the beginning of Week Three of the epic Walk of Britain – a 1,000 mile, 72 day expedition from Scotland to London. All six individuals have either physical or cognitive injuries sustained in the line of duty.

Walking With The Wounded’s latest endeavour, the Walk Of Britain, presented by YESSS Electrical, will see six wounded veterans walk more than 1,000 miles through mainland UK throughout August, September and October, finishing at Buckingham Palace on 1^st November.

The walk is engaging with local communities every day to highlight the extraordinary determination of our wounded personnel and to raise awareness of the work that Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) is doing across the country to support the wounded back into independence through long-term employment.

The core team of four British wounded veterans and two US wounded will be joined by other wounded personnel each week.  During Week Three, the team will be joined by Invictus Games Gold medallist David Wiseman on the 11^th and 12^th September.

Wiseman suffered a gunshot wound to his chest whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2009.  Following extensive surgery and months of rehab he took on Everest with Walking With The Wounded and has continued his charitable work for other wounded personnel ever since.

Prince Harry has supported Walking With The Wounded since the charity was formed, taking part in the trek to the North Pole in 2011 and to The South Pole in 2013. He was also Patron of the WWTW Everest Expedition in 2012 and is again the Expedition Patron for The Walk of Britain and will be joining the team along the way.

The Walk Of Britain is fully funded by sponsors, with Yorkshire-based YESSS Electrical being the title partner of the expedition.

Adam Mackie, co-founder of YESSS Electrical said: “We are immensely proud to be supporting The Walk of Britain. We had the great privilege, last year, to be a partner sponsor of the Invictus Games. During this experience we were profoundly impressed, and motivated, by the men and women competing who exhibited such a strength in their convictions, and exemplary moral integrity.

“As the Walk of Britain enters the Yorkshire phase, we will be joining the team to support them as they pass through the region on this incredible journey.  Staff at our branches in the region are backing the team with in-store activities and we are fundraising across our UK branch network for this great cause.”

The core team consists of:

Stewart Hill suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) on 4th July 2009 whilst commanding B Company, 2 MERCIAN in Afghanistan which has resulted in brain impairments within his executive function brain area, chronic fatigue, memory problems, severe and persistent tinnitus and bilateral hearing loss.

Matt Fisher sustained a gunshot wound to his left foot on Boxing Day 2009 in Afghanistan which resulted in subsequent elective left leg amputation 12 months later

Alec Robotham suffered severe right leg trauma as a result of shrapnel damage from a suicide bomb incident whilst on operation in the Helmand district of Afghanistan in 2010.  He also suffered puncture wounds in his right leg, right arm, secured hearing damage and a left foot drop (metal plate was then inserted).

Scott Ransley is blind in his right eye as a result of an IED blast whilst clearing an IED factory

Kirstie Ennis suffered full thickness facial trauma, oral and maxillofacial reconstruction, damage to her cervical and lumbar spine, hearing impairment, bilateral shoulder trauma, a traumatic brain injury, and left foot limb salvage

Andrew Bement suffers from PSTD with depression and suffered a Traumatic Brain Injury resulting in diminished executive functioning.

Edward Parker, Co-founder and CEO of Walking With The Wounded commented: “The first couple of weeks have gone very well although the team are finding the miles walked each day tough and fatigue has settled in. The team have been amazed by the amount of public engagement the walk has created and touched by the numbers that turn out each day to support them on their journey. We are very excited to be walking through Yorkshire and are confident it will produce the best support for the team so far!

“On their journey the team will be joined by other wounded veterans to lend their support as well as a number of celebrities. They will also be joined by the wonderful Military Wives, ladies so close to the military, unstinting in their support for husbands, brothers, partners. The Scout Association is encouraging local groups to join the Walk as part of a wider plan we have with them whereby we are encouraging ex-servicemen and women to become adult volunteers in Scouting.

 “The team hope that as they travel through the country, people will turn out and support them, and everyone will get behind them as they head towards their goal.”

Please do follow the Walk Of Britain expedition and help us to spread the word, raising awareness of and funds for our wounded:  http://walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/walkofbritain2015/