MP Meets Soldiers in Bideford on Help for Heroes Charity Walk

Geoffrey Cox last week met 2nd Lieutenants Dan Cole and Josh Philips in Bideford. The two soldiers from the Territorial Army, who are walking from Lands End to John O’Groats in aid of the military charity Help for Heroes, had originally invited the MP to meet them in Clovelly. However, the plan changed to Bideford on account of their making better than expected progress during the good weather over the bank holiday weekend.

The soldiers, who were on day 9 of an approximate 5 week journey, were keen to discuss their reasons for doing the 1,236 mile walk and explained that they both Studied at Birmingham University and felt compelled to help after seeing injured service men and women being taken to and from the nearby Selly Oak Hospital.

The pair hopes to raise around £10,000, which will go directly towards helping wounded service men and women. They have been sleeping under tarpaulins, eating Army ration packs, and walking between 15 – 20 miles per day, with 4.5 stone of baggage on their backs.

Geoffrey Cox said “2nd Lieutenants Cole and Phillips are walking the length of Great Britain in order to raise awareness and funds for our wounded service men and women. I cannot think of a better reason to support what they are doing, and I wish them the best of luck in the rest of their journey”.

The soldiers have so far managed to raise about £5,000. If you would like to donate money to 2nd Lieutenants Cole & Phillips’ fund for Help for Heroes please visit www.justgiving.com/joshanddan.

Photo: Geoffrey with 2nd Lieutenants Dan Cole and Josh Philips in Bideford on their Help for Heroes Charity Walk.