An adventurous challenge in aid of ABF, a team of 12 cadets will make a journey in a single day:

1.      St Catherine’s Point (IoW) to Cowes by mountain bike: 38km

2.      across the Solent

3.      Warsash to the Upper Hamble by kayak: 9km

4.      Upper Hamble via Bishop’s Waltham to St Catherine’s Hill running: 22km

 

The Team call this route Cat to Cat, we aim to achieve it in less than 12 hours.

From Dame Mary Fagan DCVO, Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, 'It gives me great pleasure to support Exercise Wight-Waltham-Winchester undertaken by cadets from the Winchester College Combined Cadet Force.  I am particularly pleased that the event will benefit ABF 'The Soldiers' Charity -a great support to serving soldiers and veterans.

This is an adventurous challenge and one which I am sure will test the tenacity, determination and courage of all participants. To all those taking part, I send you my warmest good wishes and good luck!

 

Lt General James Bucknall CBE (OW) Deputy Commander ISAF and Commander ARRC writes:

“Exercise Wight-Solent-Itchen is a demanding challenge in which 12 Winchester College CCF cadets will cycle, kayak and run from St Catherine’s Point on the Isle of Wight to St Catherine’s Hill, Winchester. The event is being run in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund and I am writing to ask for your generous support.

 

Winchester College CCF has a strong tradition of military and adventurous training which has, over the years, challenged cadets’ fitness, endurance and character in testing situations. Exercise Wight-Waltham-Winchester will be just such a challenge for the 12 cadets selected and their support group. It will be the climax of some hard training and meticulous preparation. It will also provide vivid testament of the CCF’s quality and endurance, characteristics which were re-emphasised when it received new Colours in 2010. The CCF has long supported local and national charities and for this event it has chosen to raise money for the Army Benevolent Fund. Many of you will be familiar with the tremendous support that the Army Benevolent Fund provides for soldiers and their families, serving or retired, when in need. And the requirement to assist those who have served their country in past conflicts as well as current ones such as Iraq and Afghanistan has rarely been greater. 

  

As an Old Wykehamist and a serving soldier, currently in Afghanistan, I ask you to support this event as generously as you can. It represents the very best type of challenge for the cadets, making real demands of their endurance and character. Successful completion will be an impressive achievement.

Thank you for your support.

 

Major General Nick Carter CBE DSO (OW) writes:

 

'The Army Benevolent Fund is a tremendous charity and its role in helping our soldiers and their families has never been more important.  Thank you all for supporting it.  You have set yourselves the sort of significant physical and mental challenge that soldiers would instinctively understand. So well done and I wish you the best of luck.  Our thoughts will be with you.'  

 

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