I’m running 250 miles to raise money for injured military veterans: Day 1

As I left Mission Motorsport headquarters, I expected a lump in my throat. The charity team had seen me off with tea and homemade cake and my parents had come to give me moral support.

But as it turns out, I was excited. What I have been thinking about, training for and organizing for the last 18 months has finally happened.

And under the surprisingly warm autumn sun, as the first few miles of the Oxfordshire countryside passed gently beneath my feet, I enjoyed it.

But soon the ground began to become swampy – a foretaste of things to come.

I have good boots, but it was still difficult to move my feet as I slid back and forth. And it was even more difficult to find my way across plowed fields where the footpaths were not visible on the map.

A field I trudged through felt like marshland. But my Hoka hiking boots did the job of keeping the water out.

What they unfortunately couldn’t bear was the shin-deep flooding that surrounded a farm gate about a mile from the end.

A detour would have added three to four miles to the route. There was no alternative – I had to throw myself into it. The muddy water cascaded over the toes of my boots as I struggled with the gate. I sat down on the other side and poured myself as much as I could.

The rest of the first day was a bit hectic, but I arrived at my accommodation for the night without any further incident. I put my boots under the radiator in the vain hope that they would dry before the second day.

I had a feeling I would get my feet wet before the end of this trip – I just didn’t expect them to come so soon!

You can support Alex’s cause by donating to him “Just Giving” fundraiser.

Why Alex does the charity walk

My plan is to arrive in Anglesey in time for Remembrance Weekend, where Mission Motorsport will be holding their annual Race of Remembrance.

It’s a very special event; a 12-hour endurance race pausing on Sunday morning for a memorial service, honoring our war dead while raising money to support Armed Forces veterans wounded or injured during their service.

That’s what Mission Motorsport does. It was founded in 2012 by former tank commander James Cameron with the express aim of supporting the armed forces community through motorsport.

That may sound a bit nebulous, but after spending time with those it has helped, I’m only too happy to say it’s anything but. Also remarkably effective.

Sport, as Cameron emphasizes every time I see it, is an incredible way to bring people together. Through its activities, Mission Motorsport can give veterans whose lives have been torn apart the space to rebuild, whether in terms of their physical or mental health, or by helping them build a new career – and a new life – outside of the United States .

In other words, Mission Motorsport helps pick up those who have fallen through the cracks, been injured in the line of duty and then spent extended periods of time in the hospital, giving them not only a sense of purpose but also a community of people , who do this have been through almost the same thing – and who they can relate to.

Having seen their work up close throughout my time as an automotive journalist, it is a charity for which I have great admiration. So when the Race of Remembrance had to be canceled during the Covid-19 pandemic and Mission Motorsport encouraged its supporters to complete their own endurance challenges instead, the seeds of an idea were laid.

A look at the photos accompanying this article will undoubtedly prove that I am a deeply unsporting person, used to sitting at my desk at home with a cup of tea, writing car reviews or answering questions from readers about their car illnesses. It’s a charming life, one that makes me want to give back.

But how? Running, cycling, mountain climbing – I probably wouldn’t complete a challenge that involved any of these. Too much living comfort. But the only thing I can do is run. After all, I reasoned, I can walk a few kilometers with my dog ​​every day – I could probably walk a little further.

How far further? My original plans were to attempt the North Downs Way. But my ambitions grew. After all, people run all the time just to have fun.

I always wanted to attend the Race of Remembrance but never made it. However, this presented a unique opportunity – I simply had to arrive on my own two feet. I looked up the distances: 250 miles, give or take, depending on my route. Surely I can do that in three weeks?

The 10th edition of the race seemed like the ideal opportunity, so the date was set in 2024 and I started training 18 months ago. My first “long” walk was five somewhat strenuous miles from my home to the nearest town; From then on, I added a mile every few weeks and eventually reached my goal of 15 per day.

I also added the two exercise walks mentioned above earlier this year. These were primarily proofs of concept. If I can manage to spend three, then six days in the sun, maybe I can manage to spend three weeks in the rain… OK, it’s still a bit of a leap of faith – but what big charity event isn’t?

I have no doubt that it will be difficult. But I will be motivated by the thought that it won’t be half as difficult as it is for the people I want to support.

What they went through, all in defense of our country, our loved ones and our way of life, is unimaginable. Given the precarious situation in the world, now more than ever seems to be the right time to help those who have sacrificed so much for this goal.

Bookmark this page and check back to see how I’m doing. I’ll be reading the comments, so any words of support you can offer will encourage me. You can also follow me on Instagram at @scrofwalks. And if you would like to donate to this great cause, you can. Thanks in advance – see you out there.

You can support Alex’s cause by donating to him “Just Giving” fundraiser.

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