A group of Suffolk men are to walk 60 miles across Normandy beaches carrying 50lb backpacks to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings.
Alex, Barney and George Holmes, Steve and Jacob Bailey, Tommy Downing, Steve Windsor, Josh Oliver Rudd, Steve Evans, Mark Gilly, Rich Smith, Steve Heap and Geoff Heywood will be taking on what's known as the Overlord Challenge to raise money for the Royal British Legion and the Veteran’s Hub (Southampton).
The walk takes place on the June 2-5 and we will be following their progress in the East Anglian Daily Times thanks to regular reports from Matt Hurst from Coddenham who, along with Phil Yeldham and Jon Hurst, are part of the support crew.
The challenge is the brainchild of Alex Holmes who did the first walk for the 66th anniversary and has since completed it six times, raising thousands of pounds for the charities.
This year will be Alex’s seventh Overlord Challenge and the 13 walkers this year include Jacob Bailey, from Rattlesden, who is just 13. His Dad, Steve, is the main organiser this year.
Other walkers come from Ipswich, Stowmarket, Rattlesden and Barham, as well as a couple from Devon and Portsmouth.
On day one the route starts at the western edge of Utah Beach - an important logistical position for prevention of the reinforcement of the port of Cherbourg by the Germans. The route ends at Pointe Du Hoc.
On day two they move along the cliffs to Vierville-Sur-Mer, the start of Omaha Beach where the American troops bravely fought for position. The walk ends at Port En Bessin.
On day three, they travel inland to Longues-Sur-Mer, then onto Gold Beach, the first of the British Beaches, before finishing at Courseulles-Sur-Mer.
On the final day, it's a 23km walk towards Juno Beach, taken on D-Day by the Canadians. Then it's on to Sword, the last of the beaches (taken by the British), before reaching the Canal de Caen a la Mer where they head for the famous Pegasus Bridge; the final marker of the Challenge.
The early capture of Pegasus Bridge (and nearby Horsa Bridge) in the opening minutes of the invasion was vital to limit the effectiveness of any German counter-attack.
To support their efforts, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/overlord
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