400-mile fundraiser from France to Wales by Foote

Former Royal Military Police sergeant and close protection officer is walking 400 miles in full kit to commemorate the sacrifices of WWI troops.

Darren Foote, a Gulf War veteran and ex-diplomatic bodyguard, will trek from Mametz Wood in France, a key objective in the Battle of the Somme, to Ebbw Vale, raising funds for Blesma along the way.

The 59 year old, who qualified as a teacher after 12 years’ service, was inspired to do the walk after taking students to visit the battle site where the 38th (Welsh) Division of the British Army had been tasked with clearing a German stronghold.

“It had a huge impact on them, and Mametz Wood is hugely significant in the valleys where I live, as 4,000 Welsh soldiers were injured or lost their lives in the battle,” said Darren. “They showed incredible bravery and sacrifice, and I wanted to honour them in some way, so I’m walking back home to commemorate that.”

Darren’s walk started from the memorial – a three-metre high plinth topped by a Welsh red dragon tearing at barbed wire – on 01 September, and he was expecting to cover about 40 miles a day, with his former RMP close protection instructor Paul Christian acting as support driver.

Darren was set to be joined by comrades along the route, which in the UK goes from Southampton to Ebbw Vale Rugby Club, with Blesma Member Gregg Stevenson joining him for the last 10 miles.

“It will be a challenge, but the motivation is very strong. Those young men went to fight with nothing like the equipment or training we have in the modern Army,” added Darren, who is the Director of Mountain Fuel sports nutrition company, which he founded with Rupert Bonnington.

“It is important that we remember what they did, so I want to pay tribute to those soldiers and to also raise funds for Blesma for the amazing work it does for injured veterans. It is important that we never forget the fallen and never stop supporting those who come back injured from war.”