A FARMER is challenging himself to walk the full length of Hadrian’s Wall non-stop in January to raise vital funds for his local air ambulance service.
Neil Young, of Crummock Bank Farm, Waverton, has supported the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) for several years and has decided to take part in the charity’s latest event, but with a twist.
GNAAS are launching an event in January 2023 called Walk the Wall, asking the public to virtually walk the length of Hadrian’s Wall in aid of their life-saving service.
The full length of the wall is 84 miles, and those who take on the challenge need to walk the equivalent length during January.
Neil, who has raised thousands of pounds for GNAAS, has signed up for the challenge, but instead of walking 84 miles throughout January, he plans to attempt walking non-stop alongside the wall next month.
He said: “I’m not your average guy and I love to do sporadic things, so I thought why not?
“The record is 31 hours so I’m going to give it a go and see what happens.”
In the past, Neil’s fundraising for GNAAS has included transforming some of his land into a sunflower field and opening it to the public as well as dressing up in a sunflower costume to run the Great North Run and the London Marathon.
This year he dressed up as a unicorn to complete the Great North Run and also attended GNAAS’ 20’s themed ball, which celebrated 20 years as a registered charity.
Neil said: “People say I’m inspirational but I portray myself as nothing but a simple farmer.”
The date he plans to carry out his challenge of walking Hadrian’s Wall is yet to be confirmed, but he will be asking people to come and support him along the way, throughout the day and night.
Speaking about GNAAS, he said: “I love the air ambulance. They are totally charity funded and do such an excellent job and in my line of work chances are if anything happened to me, I’d need them, so it’s important to support them.”
Unlike Neil, those who sign up to GNAAS’ Walk The Wall challenge can spread the 84 miles across the whole of January rather than do it in one stint, and they can walk the miles anywhere they want.
It costs £10 to sign up, and this covers the cost of a warm woolly GNAAS hat, which will be sent to supporters before they begin their challenge.
They will also receive instructions on how to set up a Facebook fundraising page and be invited to a Facebook group which will provide support and advice as well as celebrate people’s successes during January.
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