Keswick is the only town in Cumbria to be able to give a warm welcome to a team of 6 wounded war veterans when they arrive in Market Square after completing the Sca Fell Pike leg of a 1,000 mile walk around Britain.
So the call is out for all residents, visitors, school children, Scouts, Brownies, Cadets – in fact everyone to give a big Keswick Welcome to the soldiers who fight on our behalf.
Come and cheer, clap and wave flags, support and meet the four British and two US wounded veterans, accompanied by Sir Chris Bonington and his son Rupert whose sports nutrition company Mountain Fuel is supporting the team on their walk. The team will have completed the Sca Fell Pike leg of their 1,000 miles across mainland Britain, starting in Scotland on August 22nd and finishing at Buckingham Palace on November 1st.
There is even an opportunity to climb Sca Fell Pike with the team as 100 people maximum are able to join the team on each of their mountain days for a donation of £50. More details on climbing with the team are on walkingwiththewounded.org.uk/walkofbritain2015/get-involved/meet-the-team/,
There will be entertainment as local choir Committed To Rock sing, and an opportunity to raise funds for the charity via the mobile Keswick Climbing Wall, before The Mayor of Keswick gives an official welcome to Keswick and the team receive a refreshing pint of beer on the house of Keswick Brewery.
The team will be resting for a few nights in Keswick, courtesy of The Inn on the Square, and will no doubt take the opportunity to discover some of the relaxing sights to see in our area.
Some incredible statistics have revealed that during the 72 days taken to cover 1,000 miles, the route will pass through 150 villages, towns and cities, and each member will take approximately 5,280,000 steps, drink 240 litres of water and summit 24 peaks including Sca Fell Pike. 30 Support drivers will work on rotation over the duration of the walk and 2,160 meals will be prepared.
HRH Prince Henry of Wales, Patron has said “Walking With The Wounded continues to champion our extraordinary wounded service personnel and highlight their determination and courage to face future challenges following injury on the battlefield, whether physical or cognitive. It has given men and women the opportunity to push themselves to extremes in some of the most inhospitable places on earth; both the Poles and Mount Everest. The challenge we are launching today, although closer to home, is no less formidable in scale – walking 1000 miles around Britain.”