Thank you for taking the time to read this; my name is Katie Hislop and I have recently become a British Army Veteran with 24 years Service in the Royal Engineers and an Ultra Runner aiming to raise £3000 for Walking with the Wounded by running across the Namib Desert this November in the 'Beyond the Ultimate' Namib Ultra.

I have completed the Marathon des Sables twice (once in 2000 as part of the first all-female British team to do so and again in 2021, finishing 6th female over 40 and 149th overall out of a starting line up of c.700), so I see the Namib Ultra as an achievable but tough challenge for which I am training hard.

As a veteran, I feel fortunate to have served, to be in a job I love and to have the support of family and friends, but I know that many veterans struggle with finding their purpose, confidence, independence and employment following their service. This is why I have chosen to raise funds for Walking with the Wounded (WWTW) to support their vital work to empower those who served.

WWTW supports those who have served in the Armed Forces and their families, empowering them to regain their independence, thrive and contribute in our communities. We have adapted and we continue to support our ex-service community during this difficult time. WWTW has worked in partnership with the NHS for many years and during this period we will continue those partnerships to respond wherever possible to support our incredible NHS.

I am self-funding the race and so all of your kind donation will go to WWTW.