On ArmedForcesDay last Saturday, SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity’s 13 Bridges Challenge in London saw a record attendance.

More than 1,000 people participated in this year’s 13 Bridges Challenge, smashing last year’s number by more than 350 and raising more than £125,000 pounds for SSAFA.

The first walkers set off from Trinity Square Gardens at 8am on Saturday, and over the next several hours they all snaked their way through Central London and across the city’s most iconic bridges. The 10-mile route took most participants around four hours to complete, offering stunning views of the UK capital.

One participant was Miah West, 18, from Gravesend, Kent. Speaking with her after completing the challenge, she was in good spirits: "My knees have gone and I probably should have worn my splints, but it was a great day and I loved getting to see the sights in London. I look forward to doing it again next year.

The weather on Saturday was a pleasant 23 degrees, with light breezes and sunny skies. The finish line was located in Eel Brook Common in Fulham, a festive atmosphere with ice cream, beer, snacks, and SSAFA merchandise.

Stationed at the finish line, as well as checkpoints throughout the course, were 67 Event Marshals, including Reservists, cadets, and SSAFA volunteers.

Verity Harding, SSAFA’s Head of Events, says: "We are so grateful for everyone who supported SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity by taking part in the 13 Bridges Challenge. With over 1000 registrants for the event, this year was our biggest ever and so far has raised over £125,000 to support our Armed Forces community.

Thank you so much to everyone who took part, volunteered on the day or sponsored others. It is thanks to you that the event is so successful. We hope to see you at the start line in 2025.

Comments

A great story about a little bit of 'humanity' during a terrible war.

A great story about a little bit of 'humanity' during a terrible war. In April 1945, 2nd Lt. Peter During was a South African fighter pilot (N.7 Squadron) running missions over Italy when his Spitfire was shot down by German AA fire. He managed to crash land his plane behind enemy lines where he was immediately captured. Whilst been escorted to a German Lufwaffe Prisoner of War (POW) camp (he was a pilot and thus his interrogation and imprisonment was the responsibility of the German airforce), he opened a conversation with his captors. He was quickly able to establish that they could already see the writing on the wall, that the war was at an end and Germany would lose it. ...

He said the family were "acutely aware" there were "extremists of all sides who are keen to hijack this incident for their own ends".

The family of a man who was kicked in the head by police at Manchester Airport has appealed for "calm in all the communities", an MP has said. Paul Waugh, Rochdale MP, said the "traumatised" family wanted to make it clear they had "no political agenda whatsoever" and did not condone political violence. Anger over the video led to protests outside Rochdale police station on Wednesday and Thursday nights, with another protest also held in Manchester city centre on Thursday. Mr Waugh said the family would not be attending any protests or giving any media interviews as they wanted their privacy protected. "The strong message they wanted to give is that they have no political agenda whatsoever," he told BBC Breakfast. "They wanted me to issue an appeal for calm among all sorts of different communities in Rochdale. "We've had a history of unfortunate division in our town and we do not want to go back to those days." He said the famil...

Battle of Hat Dich Begins.

Battle of Hat Dich Begins On the 3rd of December 1968, Australians from the 1st Australian Task Force participated in the Battle of Hat Dich as part of Operation GOODWOOD. This operation involved the clearing of Hat Dich and its surrounding areas in a three month operation which would involve Australian, New Zealand, American and South Vietnamese forces. The battle was marked by sustained Australian patrols throughout the Hat Dich area and ambushes on tracks used by the enemy. American, South Vietnamese and Thai forces also operated in direct support of the ANZACS as part of the division-sized action. Under the codename Operation GOODWOOD, the battle of Hat Dich lasted 78 days, and saw 21 Australians, one New Zealander and 31 South Vietnamese killed. The Royal Australian Regiment, the 3rd Cavalry Regiment and 1st Armoured Regiment were subsequently awarded the battle honour award “Hat Dich”, one of only five presented to Australian units during the war. don't forget to...

WORLD OF ALL

Search This Blog