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

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. 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.”

ANNINGTON BECOMES HEADLINE SPONSOR FOR THE FRONTLINE WALK

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.

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.”

THIS JULY, JOIN US FOR A VIRTUAL CODEBREAKING CHALLENGE LIKE NO OTHER.

2020 SEES THE RETURN OF OPERATION BLETCHLEY. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE HISTORY OF THE 1940S, MEET WITH SECRET AGENTS AND GET INSIDE THE MINDS OF HISTORY’S GREATEST CRYPTANALYSTS TO DECIPHER CODED MESSAGES. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO FINISH THE JOB BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT?

WITH TWO MISSIONS TO CHOOSE FROM AND THREE LEVELS OF CODE AVAILABLE (JUNIOR, CODEBREAKER AND CYPHER EXPERT), THERE IS SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES – FROM SCHOOL CHILDREN ALL THE WAY TO GCHQ CRYPT0ANALYSTS! IT CAN BE COMPLETED ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, ALONE OR WITH MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY.*

LONDON MISSION - 50 MILES | 10 CODES | 1 MONTH

IT’S 1941 AND THE UNITED KINGDOM IS IN TERRIBLE DANGER. LUFTWAFFE BOMBS ARE RAINING DOWN ON TOWNS AND CITIES ACROSS THE NATION. THE ROYAL AIR FORCE GUARDS THE SKIES AND THE NAVY PROTECTS THE SEAS, BUT THE THREAT OF INVASION HAS NEVER BEEN GREATER. YOU MUST HELP US SECURE A NEW LINE OF COMMUNICATION FROM BLETCHLEY PARK TO THE CABINET WAR ROOMS IN LONDON... CAN YOU SOLVE THE CODES AND DELIVER THE MESSAGE TO WINSTON CHURCHILL BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE? PARIS MISSION - 100 MILES | 10 CODES | 1 MONTH

IT’S 1942 AND THE SITUATION IN FRANCE IS AT BOILING POINT. THE NAZI OCCUPATION HAS CUT US OFF FROM OUR AGENTS ON THE GROUND, SO WE NEED YOU TO GO BEHIND ENEMY LINES TO MAKE CONTACT. WE CANNOT AFFORD FOR OUR INTELLIGENCE TO BE COMPROMISED, SO YOU MUST MOVE THROUGH THE SHADOWS AND CRACK CODES ALONG THE WAY TO AVOID DETECTION. THIS MISSION IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. YOUR SUCCESS IS CRITICAL. DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?

1-31ST JULY 2020 | £10 REGISTRATION FEE

WHICH MISSION DO YOU CHOOSE?

ARMY PERSONNEL ARE AMONGST THE MANY KEY AND FRONTLINE WORKERS BATTLING THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. OPERATION BLETCHLEY IS A GREAT WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT AND ENSURE THAT WE CAN BE HERE FOR THEIR TOMORROW.

VISIT WWW.SOLDIERSCHARITY.ORG/OPERATIONBLETCHLEY TO FIND OUT MORE.