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Military charity Walking With The Wounded has teamed up with Brian Wood MC's Keep Attacking brand to create the Longest Day challenge with supporters able to earn an exclusive piece of Keep Attacking kit while going further for those who served.
Brian was awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in combat for courageous leadership in Iraq but was later summoned for unfound war crimes which eventually led to full vindication. His story is now the subject of a BBC2 film, Danny Boy, and he has been open about his struggles with PTSD and anxiety and supporting Walking With The Wounded's mental health programmes.
This summer, Brian and WWTW are looking to set a new personal best and, simply, go further than they've gone before to raise funds for other veterans who need mental health support.
Brain Wood MC said: "The Longest Day is a brilliant idea that captures the essence of the Keep Attacking mantra about digging deep and striving forward at your own pace, celebrating that each stride is a stride further than the last. I believe everyone is unique and has their own inner strength and the Longest Day will inspire so many stories. So I hope to see lots of people stepping forward and raising money in these amazing t-shirts to support veterans who experienced their own longest day in far more dangerous places for us."
WWTW's new CEO Fergus Williams, who served in the Welsh Guards, will be leading by example and attempting to cycle 200 miles from the charity's North West hub in Manchester to its HQ in Norfolk in a day, on 21 June.
"I have never cycled that far," he said. "But it has caught my imagination about what is possible and given me a goal that has got me out on my bike more and is sparking connections as I talk about it. That can only be a good thing at a time when we all need to reconnect with people and work on our own mental health while also driving vital funds to help the significant minority who served and need support.
Participants can run, walk, ride, row, swim, sail or drive anytime between 1 June and 31 August to achieve their own goal - or support someone else to achieve theirs. It is not about who goes the furthest, or the fastest, it's all relative to the person taking part.
To take part, simply:
1. create a Justgiving page attached to this campaign
2. fundraise at least £82 (the cost of a mental health therapy session)
3. earn an exclusive, limited edition WWTW x Keep Attacking t-shirt
4. complete your own, memorable, Longest Day adventure
THE RULES :
This is for you. Make it count. Whether life is chaos or calm, take on board Brian Wood's mantra, Keep Attacking, and seize the day to support others who experienced their own longest day in far more dangerous places for us.
No excuses. The challenge is relative to your ability and is open to anyone.
To qualify for an exclusive, limited edition t-shirt create your page asap and raise your first £82 in donations - the equivalent of the cost of a mental health therapy session - to help support Walking With The Wounded's employment, mental health and care coordination programmes.
There are a range of sizes available on a first come first served basis and are non-returnable/non-exchangeable, because this is a charity initiative.
Participants take part at their own risk and undertake to only take on what they are healthy enough to achieve. If you have any doubts, please stop, think, see your GP and stay safe.
Keep attacking, keep supporting, keep on going further for others.
Thank you.