FRONTLINE
NATIONAL EVENTS THE IMPACT OF CORONAVIRUS ON OUR EVENTS PROGRAMME The coronavirus pandemic has obviously had a huge impact on our 2020 programme. Cancelling events that have taken a decade to build up has been heart-breaking for us all – from eager participants and generous sponsors, to dedicated volunteers and hardworking staff members – but was absolutely necessary in the circumstances to keep everyone safe.
The Lord Mayor’s Big Curry Lunch, Rifle Run and the Cateran Yomp were projected to bring in over £1m for ABF The Soldiers’ Charity, but we will be back as soon as we can. We have been bowled over by the generosity of supporters during this time. Every donation has meant so much and with Operation
Bletchley now breaking all records for participation and fundraising, we wanted to say thank you. We can’t wait to see you with a medal around your neck at an ABF The Soldiers’ Charity event finish line as soon as we are able to.
ANNINGTON BECOMES HEADLINE SPONSOR FOR THE FRONTLINE WALK
Last year, five staff from Annington raised an incredible £43,000 for our charity when they took on The Frontline Walk. This year, Annington has agreed to become the headline sponsor of the event. Annington’s Claire Robson chose to tackle the Western Front route alongside CEO James Hopkins. But training for all of the Annington team started way back in early summer – with a walk around Hyde Park. 24
Soon the date – nicknamed ‘Walking Wednesdays’ – became a regular fixture in the office diary and the team spent the summer putting in some serious miles. Claire says: “Nothing can prepare you for walking 100km, except walking 100km. As a team of walking novices, we did lots of training together; getting used to carrying backpacks and generally getting fit. We strode weekly around the London Parks in our lunch-hour and took ourselves off for longer treks whenever possible. Stratford to Paddington Basin canal walk at 20km; 24km of the Jurassic Coast; 28km of the Thames Estuary Path. I was averaging 65km each week over the summer.” “The days before the walk were a mixture of nerves and anticipation
and on Day One as the sun rose over the Lochnagar Crater, we set off in the drizzle. I suffered badly with blisters but I kept walking and kept smiling – the camaraderie and support of fellow walkers, the sights, the history, the wine in the evening – all got me through it. Whenever it got tough, I reminded myself of how much money we were raising. When it got really tough, I thought of all those who never made it home – the pristine white headstones along the route providing a poignant reminder that put a few blisters into perspective.” “As a team, we trained, we learned, we encouraged one another along, we bonded, we laughed, we cried and most importantly, we completed. It was a team effort but a very personal accomplishment.”
