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Lions Clubs International - District 105M - Midland News

Ordinary People doing Amazing Things


 



Walking with the Wounded – Lions £1000 donation 

 

 

In April 2011, four members of the armed forces – all of whom had been badly injured in Afghanistan – set out to try to ski, unsupported, to the most northerly point in the world. Oh, and with them, went Prince Harry, the third in line to the throne.

This epic expedition, which raised funds for ‘Walking With The Wounded’ was captured on film for the BBC. On Saturday 14th January Market Harborough Lions were joined by Rob Leveritt, who lives in Clipston and who was the sound recordist for the BBC production. Rob gave an illustrated talk at in Market Harborough featuring photographs that he took whilst on the expedition. He also gave some insight into walking alongside Prince Harry.

Rob was not trained to go to the North Pole and gave the audience details of the training that he had to endure, pulling tyres along the Brampton Valley way and three weeks skiing across country He also described in some detail the clothes and equipment he took to endure -40c temperatures There were four members of the expedition, Captain Martin Hewitt (paralysed right arm), Private Jaco van Gass (left arm amputated), Sergeant Steve Young (fractured vertebra) and Captain Guy Disney (right leg amputated below the knee)...

Rob was flown from a northern Norwegian island to a Russian site near the departure point and from there by helicopter to the departure point, 160 miles from the North Pole. The journey took 16 days and was obviously cold and gruelling work. The soldiers were unsupported so could not be helped by the civilians, but the civilians had to totally self-sufficient. They were trained to fight bears, cross icy water and climb mini hills made from moving ice and snow.

Walking For The Wounded aims to raise £2 million to assist injured service personnel settle back into daily life, the Market Harborough Lions were pleased to donate £1000 to this cause from the proceeds of the evening. A further £127 was raised by a raffle for the Air Ambulance.

President Roger Wallett thanked Rob and the team of helpers on the evening and said” Market Harborough Lions are pleased to have arranged such a successful event with all of the tickets sold. We are proud to present £1000 to such a good cause.”

Supporting charities

The Walking With The Wounded fund supports several separate charities that assist members of the Armed Forces injured in action: Help for Heroes; Skill Force, an educational programme staffed by ex-services personnel; the Warrior Programme, for combat trauma victims and BLESMA, the British Limbless Ex-Service Men’s Association. The expedition itself was fully financed by sponsorship. Leader of the expedition Captain Guy Disney said: “There is no doubt that we’d not have raised so much money without [Prince Harry].

Lions Clubs International

Market Harborough is fortunate to have two active Lions Clubs: one has male members (although their ladies join most of the social activities) and the other has been formed more recently and has a mixture of male and female members.

If you’d like to know more about what Lions do, visit lionsmd105.org. If you’re interested in doing something useful and enjoyable in your spare time, Market Harborough Lions clubs will always welcome new members and details can be found from John Bush at 01858 432325 lionjbush@aol.com for the men’s club, and Sarah Hill on 01858 431993 or sarah@unthinkablesolutions.co.uk for the mixed Club.



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