<p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">On 1st February eight intrepid staff and volunteers from YAC and the CBA donned Roman tunics, helmets, spears, shields and swords and set off with our Roman standard and replica trumpet to&nbsp;conquer six laps of&nbsp;York's City Walls in aid&nbsp;of the Dig Deep for YAC campaign&nbsp;<a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #2a42c6; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.yac-uk.org/yaccampaign">www.yac-uk.org/yaccampaign</a>!&nbsp; And conquer it we did!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">Setting off at first light (well eight o&rsquo;clock) on a chilly but clear morning we entered York&rsquo;s City Walls at Bootham Bar without any resistance from the locals.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In fact those driving past in their cars were more inclined to offer friendly, if bemused, waves!<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</span>We had a long way to go to cover the distance a Roman soldier walked in a day but we were up for the challenge.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>With a rallying call on our trumpet we marched our first lap and soon realised just how fit Roman soldiers were.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>Our helmets, shields and spears grew heavier on each lap and our trumpet calls became less impressive as the day wore on.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</span>We certainly needed our Roman army rations of oat cakes and dried fruit to keep our aching muscles moving.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">So, with a clattering of swords, a triumphant trumpet call and cheers from well wishers we completed our sixth lap at 5pm.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>With weary legs, aching necks (those helmets are heavy!) and a distinct aroma we gathered for our final march back to YAC HQ safe in the knowledge that we had faced and met our Roman challenge.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>In the process we had raised awareness of the great work YAC does, been filmed and photographed and continued to raise much needed funds to save YAC&rsquo;s Branches.<span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>It was worth it!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">You can still donate and all the money&nbsp;I raise will go to our Dig Deep for YAC Campaign aimed at saving the fantastic, volunteer-run, UK-wide network of YAC Branches&nbsp;<a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #2a42c6; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.yac-uk.org/yaccampaign">www.yac-uk.org/yaccampaign</a>&nbsp;YAC Branches give young people a wide range of opportunities to get involved with archaeology.&nbsp; Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So please dig deep for YAC and donate now.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-left: 0cm; border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 14px; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; line-height: 19px; color: #1c1c1c; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; padding: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;"><span style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 11pt; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: black; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;">To see a full&nbsp;range of photos and a video clip of our walk please visit&nbsp;<a style="border-image: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; vertical-align: baseline; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; color: #2a42c6; cursor: pointer; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px initial initial;" href="http://www.yac-uk.org/yaccampaign/events/romans">www.yac-uk.org/yaccampaign/events/romans</a></span>&nbsp;</p> </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">&nbsp;</span></span></span></p> <p>&nbsp;</p>