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The Sentinals £6,650 donated - thank you 🎉

Restart - The Players Charity £8,630 donated - thank you 🎉

Wolf Pack Pilgrimage #3

Restart24

Restart24 was a simple concept; run, jog or walk 3 miles in a hour. The clock restarts every hour and the challenge lasted 24 hours. Each 3 miles completed within the hour are accumulated giving a total score over the 24 hours with a maximum of 72 miles…

All the blood, sweat and blisters didn’t go in vain, with all your kind donations going directly to Restart - The Players Charity.

The brilliant crew that took part: Chris Bajak, Jamie Howard, Charlie Keith, Seth Andrews, Ross Andrews, Fynn Page & Mum, Rayhan Wilson, Helen Crains, Alfie Oliver, Kev Barrett & Martin Simpson

And a special thank you to Paul Lazarus for looking after us throughout the night.

Wolf Pack Pilgrimage #2

Hadrian's Wall Pilgrimage

In the early hours of Saturday 17th June 2023, I set off from Bowness-on-Solway Cumbria with a small team with the aim of walking the entire 84 miles of Hadrian's Wall in the fastest possible time.

I arrived at the finishing point in Wallsend, Newcastle at dawn on Sunday,18 June 2023 in what could well be a World Record time for walking the 84 miles of Hadrian's Wall in one go - 27 hours and 20 minutes!

A World Record time of 31hours and 5 minutes was set in 2008 (reference 3), and I will conduct due diligence to establish if this time is still the official World Record.

Wolf Pack Pilgrimage #1

Perimeter of Wales Pilgrimage

On the 14th April 2023, I set off to cover the 1064 mile perimeter of Wales. The journey started at Chepstow Castle, I headed north up Offa's Dyke, before I turned west on to the Welsh Coastal Path, which I followed until I completed my journey back at Chepstow Castle on the 21st May 2023. I walked the entire perimeter of Wales in 38 days. The distance covered was the equivalent of over 40 marathons and 30 ascents of Mount Snowdon.

The remarkable journey around Wales enabled me to totally immerse myself in the breathtaking landscape and beautiful scenery, whilst creating a strong feeling of camaraderie with those that I met and with those who accompanied me on the way. By opening up to each other and establishing those connections, it helps to build a future with a positive outlook.

On the pilgrimage, I met up with good friend and Ocean Photographer Ross Andrews, at the beautiful north beach in Tenby where we produced a sand draw that gained local and national coverage (references 1,2).

On each of the challenges, I have been overwhelmed by the love and support I received, both from local communities and individuals who have either joined me on the walks and/or backed my journey in some way. The kindness and hospitality I have been shown is nothing short of amazing and I thank everyone who has helped out and been involved along the way.

My Story

I joined the Army at 17 and spent over two decades in the UK's Elite Airborne Forces with the 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery. I was deployed on operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. I lived a dual aspect life, in that in between tours I was an elite sportsman, playing professional rugby for Gloucester, Harlequins and 7’s with the Barbarians and England.

Fast forward a decade, and I have learnt that my suppression of past events has manifested itself in my psyche and behaviours. Despite having a complete breakdown, I was still in denial as to my mental health issues, until recently having been clinically diagnosed with PTSD. My symptoms are not uncommon with others who are battling the same disorder - most notably I suffer from continuous intrusive thoughts from past experiences, ever increasing fogginess of mind, unwarranted negative thoughts about myself and hyper-vigilance to threats that simply don’t exist. These symptoms, together with the unsettling feeling of being on edge when I go to sleep, has resulted in an increasing need to self-isolate.

My refusal to admit I was struggling and lack of recognition for the need of help has had a significant detrimental effect on not only my own wellbeing, but also on the people I care for the most. However, as a former Airborne Solider, it is instilled within me to take a disciplined approach to resolving problems. As such, I am taking responsibility for my own recovery, drawing on the latest research to assist in my healing and the support of a caring community. I am determined and focussed on my mission to quieten the demons and help who I can along the way.

Thank you for your support,

Andy

Our Why?

Walking and support networks have been well researched and proven to improve mental health and wellbeing. The walk provides the perfect environment to meet and connect with friends old and new. Furthermore, we recognise that for many reasons, walking may not be possible for some, so arranging meet-ups along the way may help reduce the barriers to connecting and forming your own critical support network.

Sports clubs can often be an amazing source of comfort and support. If managed correctly these can literally change people’s lives for the better - for ever. For this reason, we will be stopping off at a host of venues to soak up the positive loving energy we all need.

Our Aims

• Dedicating crucial time to decompress for self-recovery.

• Connecting people with communities and sources of help in compassionate environments to help build positive futures.

• Sharing coping mechanisms/skills, and implementing the same, to enable us to live a more meaningful life.

• Adding value to the lives of others along the way.

• Raise funds for selected charity projects pertinent to the mission, through a transparent process.

Supported Charities

SAS Regimental Association

£6,650 donted

The SAS Association's priority is, and always has been the welfare of its members, whilst promoting the well-being of its members, their dependants and to maintain the Regiment’s tradition and esprit de corps.

https://www.marsandminerva.co.uk/

Restart - The Players Charity

£8630 Donated

Restart is the official charity of The Rugby Players Association (RPA). They are dedicated to supporting professional rugby players suffering from serious injury, illness or hardship.

They provide financial and practical support to players and their families during difficult times, including help with the cost of medical treatment, rehabilitation equipment and disability support. They are also there when players need emotional support to help with mental health issues, by providing a 24/7 Confidential Counselling Service.

https://therpa.co.uk/restart/

Donation Committee - The Magnificent 7

Martin Simpson

Paul Lazarus

Ian George

Maggie Fowers MBE

Marcella Callow

Norman Charles

Secret Squirrel 🐿️

‘The strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack’.

Rudyard Kipling

References:

(1) Wales Online Facebook, accessed on 14th June 2023 - https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0iMd4zpF6uhyX1V2S34hEm2g9KNNb2CbAgF1NRtB7Tt2jrQDC21wGGeBzkDiVe5ibl&id=100064419534660

(2) Tenby Today Online, accessed on 14th June 2023 - https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/news/former-paratrooper-completes-1000-mile-mission-around-the-entirety-of-wales-615582

(3) Dorset Echo Online, accessed on 14th June 2023 - https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/2423272.wonder-wall-duo-set-world-record/