Help for Heroes Charity walk

[Viking Warrior]

As some of you on here are aware (see my blisters thread) Im going to be walking around the coast of the Orkney mainland and South Isles , Its a 185 miles approx give or take a few coves and inlets. the ground is rugged but the scenary is stunning. I will be sleeping out at night.Also volunteering to do it is a former Army nurse and now ITU nurse at Cambridge Addenbrookes Hosp. It will be her first time in Orkney and probably her last after this trek.

 

Anyway some of asked how they can donate money for this walk

 

Karen has set up a web page at just giving as follows

 

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/kleadon

 

Between the two of us we have so far raised close to £800 with more donations still to come.

 

I know some of you disagree with Irag and Afghan war but the Help for Heroes charity is a non political charity and is about the men and women who get injuried over there.

 

 

So if you feel like sponsoring me the click on to the following

 

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/kleadon

 

PS if you go to that site you will see a horrible face picture of me on my way to the JPT Final you are all warned

 

Thanks for Listening

 

Best wishes

 

Mike

[Viking Warrior]

PS can the Mods make this a sticky for me Please

[Rory]

Good luck mush.

[1976_Child]

PS can the Mods make this a sticky for me Please

 

Yes, Mods. This could/should be a sticky on the main Saints board. I know many Saints fans in HM forces and Help for Heroes is a very well respected charity helping our brave service men and women.

 

From the Help for Heroes website (http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/) :

 

Help for Heroes is strictly non-political. We have no affiliation with any political party and we do not endorse the use of our name for the promotion of any political viewpoint. The money that we raise at Help for Heroes is used to support wounded Servicemen and women of every colour and creed and we strongly oppose any individual or political party who believes otherwise, and those who seek to use the charity’s name for their own political gain.

 

Also Viking Warrior is asking for donations through Just Giving - which is a bonefide portal for taking charitable donations and as such HM Treasury will provide Gift Aid relief for all donations made by UK taxpayers through Just Giving.

 

Let's get this up on the main board as a sticky! Just remember, it isn't the politicians who fight wars, it is the sailors, soldiers and airmen.

Edited 27 April, 2010 by 1976_Child

[Viking Warrior]

A special thank you to my fellow Saints fans who have so far donated to

the Just Giving Site.

As an update on my training I am now starting to clock up the miles. 40 last weekend and no blisters. Some of the coastal tracks I am walking around are just fanatstic. Its not going to be an easy walk due to the terrain, weather and the sea gulls and Bronxies starting to attack you. The Bronxies are particularly nasty critters.

 

For some of the walk I will be wearing my Saints top but most of the time I will be wearing H4H tops.

 

So if you have not donated yet please consider a small donation to this worthwhile cause

for those that have , Thank you very much and its good to see The Forum represented.

 

I wish I was at the final home game tomorrow but tomorrow night I will be sleeping under the stars somewhere between Birsay and Finstown having done about 20miles plus walking .

 

Regards

 

Mike

[RonManager]

Its not going to be an easy walk due to the terrain, weather and the sea gulls and Bronxies starting to attack you. The Bronxies are particularly nasty critters.

 

Regards

 

Mike

 

I did warn you about the Bonksies. The best way to fend them off is to hold out a stick or suchlike in their direction. They apparently focus on the point closest to them to attack. I wandered into a nesting ground on Westray and grabbed an old fence post. Unfortunately, one hit it full on.

 

Also keep clear of nesting Fulmars as they will shoot a disgusting mixture of allsorts at you from a small tube on their upper beak. Almost impossible to wash out of clothing!!

 

Wild.

 

All the best.

Edited 7 May, 2010 by RonManager

[Viking Warrior]

Well my Help for Heroes weekly update.

 

 

Last Sunday I did 30 miles in just over 10 hours travel from Scap Cliifs to the first Barrier out to Dearness and round the coast of Tankerness. back to Kirkwall. Scenary not as spectacular as in previous weeks . I got blisters on my toes this week and got a jippy tummy in a built up area close to home and had to make an emergency stop at someones house to use the loo other wise I would have been done for a public order offence.

 

This week end its Walking from Brisay back to Kirkwall , about thirty five miles . Im doing it over two days and camping out overnight.

Tomorrow I will wear my saints Shirt. I might bump into the oddd saints fan

 

Anyway my training is going well andits only four weeks before I do the real walk in one go.

 

So if you would like to donate to this charity then go to

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/kleadon

I could put some pictures up but I havent learnt to do that yet.

 

I might even put up a picture of my blisters if I get any this weekend

 

Remember this a non political charity what ever your thought of our lads and lasses being in afghanistan

 

 

Regrads

 

Mike

[SoccerMom]

I got blisters on my toes this week

 

Dont forget the laces trick. Here's a picture of my boots - the one on the left is tied to stop it slipping around my toes, laces wound around each other three times at the first crossover point.

These boots are a size bigger than my street shoes, as I found that after ten hours of training walking, my toes were banging against the ends of my boots. Went a size up and tied them like this here and at the ankle bend - I didn't get any toe blisters, and only one small heel blister, in a week of walking in the Andes more than twelve hours a day.

 

Good luck!

[Viking Warrior]

Thanks Soccer mum

 

Well my training is now intensifying. Last weekend was a two day trek where i did 41 miles in two days Birsay to Kirkwall. The cliffs between birsay and gurness were stunning well that is until the fog descended. My there were some scary moments with such thick fog and being close to the cliff edge

it was almost like a scene from what lies below, grey sea not a soul in sight

and visibility next o nothing, I was almost expecting a great white leaping hundreds of feet into the are and swollowing me. Any after several hours walking I reached my tent. Had a brew some thing to eat then crashed out for the night

 

Sunday I was up at the break of dawn. this was to be a very long and painful day. 11 .5 hours walking. Some of the ground was nigh impossible to get over but I did. South of tingwall having beeen very careful to walk over some huge slabs withgreat caution, I suddenly whent flying landing very heavily on my right shoulder. fortunately I didnt crack my head open as my back pack stopped my head hitting the slab full on.

 

iwas in absolute pain. I thought I had broken my arm or clavicle. I had a look administered repairs. (By the way the rock was fine)

My arm was heavily bruised , black and blue almost immediatley but I knew dispite the pain it wasnt broken.

 

I still had 9.5 hours walking left, and then the heavens opened. not much fun at all especially having to carry my back pack on only one shoulder.

 

Still I eventaully made it back to kirkwall and called in for a couple of medicinal pints before walking an extra 1.5 to my house.

 

The Saturday gone was walking for 7 hours wualkmill bay to stromness for those that know Orkney. I. Its a lot longer to walk than you expect as there are two estuaries you have to walk to a roadbridge to cross as you cannot cross the coastline unless you have a boat at these particular points. still it was good to reach Stromness. I was the folk festival weekend with lots of people milling around and musicians

palying accoustic guitars drums in the street,

 

Still it was good to be out and I have now walked round the whole of the orkney mainland and south isles as part of my training.

 

Its less than three weeks away before I do it all in one go (9 days)So if you feeling like donating you can do so online

So if you would like to donate to this charity then go to

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/kleadon

 

Regards

Mike

[RonManager]

Thanks Soccer mum

 

Well my training is now intensifying. Last weekend was a two day trek where i did 41 miles in two days Birsay to Kirkwall. The cliffs between birsay and gurness were stunning well that is until the fog descended. My there were some scary moments with such thick fog and being close to the cliff edge

it was almost like a scene from what lies below, grey sea not a soul in sight

and visibility next o nothing, I was almost expecting a great white leaping hundreds of feet into the are and swollowing me. Any after several hours walking I reached my tent. Had a brew some thing to eat then crashed out for the night

 

Sunday I was up at the break of dawn. this was to be a very long and painful day. 11 .5 hours walking. Some of the ground was nigh impossible to get over but I did. South of tingwall having beeen very careful to walk over some huge slabs withgreat caution, I suddenly whent flying landing very heavily on my right shoulder. fortunately I didnt crack my head open as my back pack stopped my head hitting the slab full on.

 

iwas in absolute pain. I thought I had broken my arm or clavicle. I had a look administered repairs. (By the way the rock was fine)

My arm was heavily bruised , black and blue almost immediatley but I knew dispite the pain it wasnt broken.

 

I still had 9.5 hours walking left, and then the heavens opened. not much fun at all especially having to carry my back pack on only one shoulder.

 

Still I eventaully made it back to kirkwall and called in for a couple of medicinal pints before walking an extra 1.5 to my house.

 

The Saturday gone was walking for 7 hours wualkmill bay to stromness for those that know Orkney. I. Its a lot longer to walk than you expect as there are two estuaries you have to walk to a roadbridge to cross as you cannot cross the coastline unless you have a boat at these particular points. still it was good to reach Stromness. I was the folk festival weekend with lots of people milling around and musicians

palying accoustic guitars drums in the street,

 

Still it was good to be out and I have now walked round the whole of the orkney mainland and south isles as part of my training.

 

Its less than three weeks away before I do it all in one go (9 days)So if you feeling like donating you can do so online

So if you would like to donate to this charity then go to

http://www.justgiving.co.uk/kleadon

 

Regards

Mike

 

Well done matey. Hope the rock doesn't sue!

 

I am going to intensify my long distance walking this summer, not to your level but something like the coast-to-coast etc. Reading your blog has been very enjoyable, brings back memories of doing archaeological projects on Orkney back in the 80s - I managed to walk round Westray, although it was a series of leisurely evening strolls!!

 

All the best.

[Viking Warrior]

Ron

 

do you fancy a job up here still lots of areas to dig

 

MIke

[Viking Warrior]

Two long training walks this weekend.

 

The first took me to stromness where I walked the whole coast line to yesanby. The electric fences are awesome It must cost farmers a fortune in electricity cost. The batteries ones are okay but most farmers have them plug into the mains via a transformer. They give you an awesome kick if you actually touch one. I feel sorry for the KAI and sheep up here. if they touched these fences then you would have bbQ meat in an instance,

 

Well back to my first walk. The Stromness golf course goes right up to the shore line . and I was lucky enough to find a couple of tietlist pro 9 golf balls

 

It just goes to show Im not the only golfer that puts his balls out of bounds.

On with the walk so it was round some really rockey ground past the ness former world war 2 battery emplacements and up and over the Black Craig.

That gave spectacular views of the hills of hoy and beyond.

 

Wild life was in abundance, Rabbits, hares and the usual spitting fulmers, Still no sign of bronxies yet. Maybe its too early for them or the are held up somewhere due to the volcanic ash not allowing them to fly to Orkney

 

Then its was back over old ground to yesanby and then back for the return journey to stromness. I covered about 15 miles on that walk

 

The second walk saw me park the at the first churchill barrier ( causeway for the uneducated) The walk took me from the barrier to the beiginning of the Dearness pinnisula. The coast line was really rugged and was almost impassable going west to east given the direction in which the rocks were pointing. I had to get onto higher ground but walking over tufts of grass was nigh on impossible. But I achieved it. Again more electric fences to climb over on most of the time under them

There were a few seals swimming about and a few gulls but wild life apart from KAI were none existent. Again the scenary was stunning looking out towards the South Ilsles with John o'groats in the far distance. I am suprised at the number of gun emplacements still in place. I knew there were a few still about but had not realised how many still exist. Although now derelict you can see how strategically important Orkney was during the war.

 

Once reached my destination point it was time to rehydrate and make may way back to the car. It was easier to do the shoreline on the way back as the rock formations were now pointing east to west . Its was a case of walknig over them and then climbing down them.

 

Then it was back to Kirkwall for a pint. but then the pints became two etc etc So no blisters yesterday but a mild hangover today.

 

Its only just over two weeks to the real walk> There are times when I don't think my body will cope with that level of endurance. but then I am determined that it will be completed especially as it is for a very good cause.

 

So yep Im ready for the 185 miles I have to cover in 9 days

 

As for the totally raised . with money already in and pledges made , the total so sar is fast approach the 2k mark

 

I will try and put some pictures up on this page once Im back from hockey tonight, but I will probably do it tomorrow

 

Mike

[SoccerMom]

Keep going, Mike! Don't forget to post some pics.

[Viking Warrior]

Heres my latest update. The walking is going fine , No blisters for three weeks I mustn't get to excited but all your tips have paid off , Thanks fellow forumees. Its only a week now before I set out on the real walk, but I will still be out this weekend doing a final training walk. I have just purchased some Merrel gortex walking shoes and need to do a lenghty walk in them this weekend. . Im doing all the four churchill barriers and around the coast of all the land at each end . A good twenty odd miles.

 

As for sponsorship so far with moneys in and pledges the figures has now reached a staggering £2600, Im now trying to get to a magical figure of £3K

 

So if you wish to to sponsor you can go online at http://www.justgiving.co.uk/kleadon

 

I want to post some picture up but not having any success, Please advise how to do it

 

Regards

 

Mike

Edited 17 June, 2010 by Viking Warrior

[Viking Warrior]

Hi All

 

I completed my final training walk today only about ten miles, felt more like 20 though as I was nursing a bit of a hangover,

Here in Orkney it is the time of The St Magnus festival, So as Im hosting someone from the BBS Sypnony orchestra I get to go to the Festival Club. Live gigs and meet a host of

musicians, and Actors who come up to take part. I have a drummer staying with me. He has some alcohol consumptionand being a good host we were drinking to the small hours.

 

Any way less of the Festival back to my training. Today while it wasnt a long walk it was difficult. I had to undertaker some basic mountaineering skills on one area as I decided to look at another area and ended up scaling down a hill into a disused quarry I stumbled upon

It wasnt till I got to the other side, a big sign outside the locked gates said, Keep out private property and 24 CCTV was in operation. I waved to the camera and no doubt the polis will be knocking on my door in the next few days unless the CCTV wasnt switched on.

So with the raining lashing down I continued to stumble over the large rocks and slabs on the shoreline. and then back to the car to head home.

 

I have sent some pictures to Soccermom to put up on this website for me. I have chosen a selection and you can get an idea of the spectacular views I am walking along. So Thanks Soccer mum

 

The fundraising is really going well now. over £3k which is brilliant. I think its nearer £3500 so I have set a new target of £3750 and who knows even £4k

so to to those who have already donated thankyou very much . Those that havent you can still donate if you would like to , see the address in my earlier emails.

 

Its just five days now before I set off on the real walk. I will try to give you all and update if the opportunity arises how I am progressing

 

Regards for Now

 

Mike

[SoccerMom]

Here are Mike's pictures. Brilliant.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Viking Warrior]

Hi All

 

WEll tomorrows the big day. We will be setting off from St Magnus Cathedral at 9am heading for Scapa and making the assault over cliffs , rocks sea weed, bog boulders towards stromness.

I will try and keep you updated on progress. as and when I fine a mobile phone signal in the back of beyond

 

Anyway if you havent pledged the just giving site is mention above

 

Until my next post thats me signing off from a wet and very windy kirkwall

 

Mike

[RonManager]

Hi All

 

WEll tomorrows the big day. We will be setting off from St Magnus Cathedral at 9am heading for Scapa and making the assault over cliffs , rocks sea weed, bog boulders towards stromness.

I will try and keep you updated on progress. as and when I fine a mobile phone signal in the back of beyond

 

Anyway if you havent pledged the just giving site is mention above

 

Until my next post thats me signing off from a wet and very windy kirkwall

 

Mike

 

Well done mate, all the best for tomorrow. Great to see the pics, brings back memories.

[Viking Warrior]

HI All

 

Just a quick update to let you know how the first four days ahve gone, On friday I left Kirkwall (St Magnus Cathedral) at 9 am following a quick local press photographic session and a warm send off by members of The RBl and some Freinds

So ff towards Scapa beach and and 11 hour trek to the Point of Ness at Stromness

I slow down to the pace of my co walker. Lots to see, Seals are so nosey they almost want to come up right close but the moment you stop the dive under the service wanting for you to walk on before have aclose look at you,

 

The birds are crazy. I had the Artic terns screeming at us . trying to identify their nest site. I looked donw at my feert and to the side was this baby tren chick nestling in some pebble on the beach how quiant, Theres lots of thinks to notice for instant the amount of rusting away og historic farm imlemnets from tractors to 1950's combineharvesters. Quite and education Having reached Houghton it was time for a brew. Stromness could be see way in the distance, More sqaking birds and suddley the young oyster catcher chick was inches away , still no harm to the chick

 

There is a crasy silence when your out walking . Enenvtaul we walked in to stromness and picked up a few donations to the course. A quick pint in the Brintish legion and then up to the campsite. for the night, atotal o7 25 mlies covered. The next day was a reasnable start walk along the side of thre stromness golf clb out towards Black craig. this was a tuff hill to scale out towards yesanby andf passed a disued mound. I

 

At the start of day 2 it was the opportunity to have a hot shower the las for a few days. then it was off to bed, Next day it was up early a quick brew and towords yesanby , but Karen went over on her anklle but she struggled on so welldone to her.We still had several miles to go so it was intonSkara Brae cafetera, Suitably rehydrated and then the next main hazard was Marwick head, There were a large varity of bird life present including puffins. and an hour and half later it was timefor a quickbrew before hitting the sack, this time we had now completed 26 miles, #

 

Day three I took the option for Karen rest her Ankle. So leaving 9 the next day I had the joy of waking all rounf the coast FROM Birsay comletely round to Finstwon some 33 miles awAy> Some of the scenary was absolutely stunning, I have a deep tan, I met some wonderful people of this stretch of the walk .most think Im crasy. They are probably right I met a group of Marine Biologists up from Herriot watts Uni . I thought they were out colecting winkles. It turns out they were do a survey of some minute crustaceans ten years om

So far I ve walked 90miles in 3.5 days.I will update tjhe site hopeflull..

 

 

Regrdas

 

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I willpring the list up todate as Ifalling at the PC. Stll I

Edited 29 June, 2010 by Viking Warrior

[RonManager]

Wll dne -kp eet pu.

[SoccerMom]

Keep going, Mike!

[Viking Warrior]

A quick up date Day four was only a 14 mile trek just when you think it cannot get any more difficult it does.

Since I walked this route previously the vegatitation has shot up to waste high I could have done with a machete, Bear Grills eat your heart out. I treid counting cobbles on the beach to keep myself amused but after getting to 5million 3k and 23 I lost count and I couldnt be bothered to recount. I think I have a bad case of Shin splints or a stress factor. not sure which. Its very painful but loads of pain killers has deadened the pain. No exaggerating the whole left leg and ankle is swollen and covered in some very angry looking bruises. Im not stopping now , Any formal medical treatment can wait till the end of the walk , After all the guys and gals Im doing this for have far more serious injuries to contend with than I have.

 

Today Im embarking on about 21 miles around tankerness and apparently I will get a hot shower tonight , must mind on to take my 20Ps with Me

 

Regards

 

Mike

[Viking Warrior]

Just to let you know there are some updated photos on the Just giving site

 

Mike

[SoccerMom]

Photos look great (though the bandaging doesn't bode well). Keep going - really looking forward to seeing your final post. Can't believe how much money you two have made! It will make such a difference. Well done a million times.

[Viking Warrior]

Hi All

at approximatley 1810 last night we limped into Kirkwall to complete the 200 mile trek around the coast of Orkney East and West Mainland and South Isles.

I was sad in many ways it has finished but in many ways Im glad to have finished this challenge. The last leg was from Sands of Rite(Near St Margarets Hope. Across the fourth barrier Around the west side of Burray and across the three remaining Churchill barriers through St Mary's

Yep St Mary's (Where we all my fellow Saints supporters. Then round the coast for 14 miles back to Scapa and then Kirkwall. The last section was awful. Waist high grond elder, Heather , bracken. Nigh on impossible to get through . It took over two hours to get through about two miles

plus of this stuff. I crossed over an electric fence. I think I have mentioned before but some elecetric fences are plug into the mains via a transformer and pack a fair punch. I think this fence was used to keep walkers like me away as there is no way Cattle or sheep could feed there.

Any way I had a set of head phones on. I though i had climbed over this fence ( The electric part was a single strand on the other side and not part of the barbed wire Fence) anyway as I stepped over I somehow touched the fence and had a massive shock into the neck Got it was powerful.

And I was convinced I had touched it. When I suddenly realised that my head phone wires were just dangling. I looked at the two strands and reaslised that it was the wires that had touched the fence. and were severed in two by the sheer power. No wonder I had the shock in the neck

 

Swearing was at its most prominent.

 

Eventually I made a decision to slide down a cliff edge about 60 ft through foilage etc and then climb the remaining 15-20 feet down rocks to the waters edge. The co walker is scared of hieghts so well done to her for following me down but walking on rocks was a lot more easier than the foilage above

 

Anyway we got back into Kirkwall just after 6pm lastnight I was extremely sore. A bottle of champagne was produced a potocall for the local press ensued then it was back to the legion to have a few pints and I called into my local for a couple as well, by then I was well knackered and instead of walker a mile and a half home I got a taxi. Had a shower and went to bed.

 

This morning I eventually rose and got myself to the local A&E The duty registrar was someone I know have coached her at hockey several years ago I was so pleased all her hard work and study had paid off and she was now a qualified doctor. Ingrid said to me right payback time mike for all the grief you give me at Hockey. Anyway she examined me asked me about the walked and we chatted away as old friends well im the old one she is still in her twenties but you get the picture. She said I have cellulitis and was prescribed to different doses of antibiotics to treat it before looking at the other problem a potential stress fracture my leg has been marked to monitor the infection and I have to keep the leg up for the next few days to reduce the swelling.

I though I had be walking with a stress fracture for 8 days and I may still have but I certainly have had cellulitis for 8 days of the 9 days i was walking.

 

I will post up a fuller brief of the actual walk in the next couple of days. Can I send some pictures to you soccer mum for you to post up for me? I pleased to have been able to raise money for this worthwhile charity . I think the sum is nearer to 4k maybe a bit more I give you all an update on totals as soon as possible. You can still donate see the just giving site address in ealier posts. Yes am knackered but Im pleased to raise money to help our wounded soldiers and service woman. There are far more of these than the brave lads who have lost their lives. Regards Mike

[derry]

Well done Mike. Congratulations from your friends in Block 5.

[Viking Warrior]

HI Derry Thanks very much now I must sort out my season ticket

[SoccerMom]

Course you can, Mike. Congratulations on a wonderful achievement. And to Karen, too!