The National Museum of the Royal Navy, National Army Museum, the Royal Air Force Museum and Commonwealth War Graves Commission are delighted to announce the launch of a country-wide celebration of our service personnel in conjunction with this year’s Armed Forces Week.
All four organisations have come together to host a virtual walk event In the Footsteps of Our Forces, and are appealing to the public to reflect on and celebrate the role of our Armed Forces today and in the past.
The virtual walk will kick off on Monday 20 June, Armed Forces Week, and will end on Sunday 3 July.
The public will have until 22 July to complete their chosen distance of either 5, 10 or 25K. They will also be able to download one of the suggested routes which will take then around museums, war graves, memorials, historical sites and places of remembrance. that highlight each of the partner sites, or areas of significance, but everyone is free to choose their own path.
All of those who complete the walk will be awarded a commemorative medal to mark their achievement and a souvenir t-shirt is available for £15.
Entry for the In the Footsteps of Our Forces walk is £15-20 and participants will also be encouraged to make a donation as well as pay their fee. The money will go towards the three museums, and the Commonwealth War Graves Foundation (CWGF), which are all registered charities.
A discounted ticket of £15 is offered for the Armed Forces Community (including veterans, cadets and serving personnel). If five or more friends or family members enter, they will be eligible for a 10% discount on tickets. If a group of 10 or more enter then a 15% discount will apply. Tickets must be purchased in a single transaction, and medals will be posted to one address.
All four charities preserve the history of the Armed Forces and inspire with stories of sacrifice and courage and have seen visitations to their sites severely impacted in the last year. The money raised will support each organisation in helping to continue to tell the stories of those who served and are still serving in the Armed Forces today.
Amongst the suggested routes includes the routes around historic Hendon, the home of the RAF Museum or through the streets of military Chelsea, the home of the National Army Museum. You can explore the historic docks of the Royal Navy in Portsmouth or use the War Graves app to discover the War Graves and memorials on your doorstep.
Details on how to take part in the challenge are available here. https://jointoperations.digitickets.co.uk/tickets
