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This September myself and nine other team members have set ourselves the challenge of trekking the Le Chemin de liberte (freedom trail). We will be on the hoof for 4-days; hiking 80km (50 miles) from southern France across the Pyrenees mountain region into northern Spain covering what is regarded as one of the hardest wartime escape routes. Each of us will carry enough food, water and equipment to sustain ourselves for the whole duration; we are unsupported throughout and will survive only by utilising everything on our backs with bergans weighing upto 60lbs.

The route is unique in that it commemorates one of the several secret escape routes over the central Pyrenees into northern Spain during the Second World War. A route taken not only by hundreds of Frenchmen and Jews fleeing from their German oppressors, but also by many R.A.F. and American airmen who had either crash-landed or parachuted to safety after being shot down over Nazi-occupied Europe. Between the years 1940-44, more than 33,000 civilians and 6,000 allied servicemen were forced to tackle the high peaks and harshest of conditions in an effort to escape from Nazi-occupied Europe and regain their liberty via neutral Spain.

I have chosen to fund-raise for the RMA - The Royal Marines Charity exists to help the entire Royal Marines family. Offering a range of services to both serving, veterans and their families. As a serving Royal Marine CSgt, the RMA has immensely supported myself and my family since my son was born with a life limiting muscular dystrophy back in 2011 and I want to give back by raising as much funds as possible for this fantastic Charity.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

https://ww2escapelines.co.uk/freedom-trails/le-chemin-de-la-liberte-pat-oleary-line/