The Longest Try
The RNRU would like to congratulate Billy MacLeod and his team of walkers who completed "The Longest Try" on 30 May. The team walked 1200 miles from John O'Groats to Land's End in 27 days to raise money for Veterans' International Aid, a charity set up to help those who have served on operations and have suffered the effects of PTSD or who find it hard to adjust to civilian life.
On the 1st of May, Veterans International Aid attended the Army/Navy Rugby with the team of walkers that would be walking from John O' Groats to Land's End. They were presented with a Navy practise ball before the match and then Billy MacLeod was invited onto the pitch to receive the match ball signed by both captains.
The match ball was carried by the team throughout The Longest Try and proved to be a real conversation piece, providing a way for the walkers to engage with people along their route.
All team members were sufferers of PTSD or related to someone with the illness. The changes made throughout the walk were fantastic and you could see them physically changing as the days passed.
It is hoped to do a similar event next year to coincide with the Army v Navy match, starting from Dover, passing through the Medway Towns before joining the Thames walkway to Twickenham. The ball will be taken to Cape Wrath in the North West of Scotland and this will once again be approximately a 1200 mile walk.
For more information of this worthwhile cause, go to http://www.v-i-a.org.uk