x

Walking Home for Veterans' Charity - Ipswich Town News

Following the match at Fulham on Tuesday 15th December, Town fan and local politician Alasdair Ross will be walking most of the way home to raise money for the Walking With The Wounded charity. Alasdair, 53, who was in the army for 25 years, first in the Royal Green Jackets and then with the Rifles in Afghanistan in 2009, told TWTD why he is making the walk.


This December, I am Walking Home for Christmas. This is a fundraising initiative from the Walking With The Wounded charity. This is a charity close to me as it supports a project that helps homeless veterans back into employment.

It is a sad fact that many veterans end up in prison or homeless. For every one soldier physically injured, five will be mentally injured.

Walking With The Wounded ask people to just ditch the car, tube, bus or train and get walking even if it is just a mile or 100.

I wanted to make this as difficult as possible so that I feel I am making a sacrifice both in time and physically, so I am walking 64 miles from Chelmsford to Ipswich, on my own, across country and starting at midnight.

This will be the furthest I have walked in one day since 1996 and my first real challenging walk since I started limping (my knee packed in in 2009), so it will not be easy!

On December 15th, after Town have played in West London at Fulham, I will get the train back but only as far as Chelmsford where I will get off with my high viz vest and Santa hat and then using the Essex Way will walk back to Ipswich.

My first steps will be at midnight and after 64 miles I expect to be back in Ipswich late afternoon on the 16th. I will be on my own and 90 per cent of the journey will be on footpaths and over fields, not on roads.

I hope some Town fans will want to sponsor me — my charity page can be found here.

What to read next:

Hutchinson in England U21s Squad
Town forward Omari Hutchinson has been named in the England U21s squad for the European Championship in Slovakia next month, but former Blues striker Liam Delap has been left out.
Al-Hamadi Red-Carded For Iraq
Town striker Ali Al-Hamadi was red-carded after 25 minutes of his return to the Iraq side in this evening’s World Cup qualifier against South Korea in Basra.
Emmanuel-Thomas Sentenced to Four Years in Jail
Ex-Blues forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was sentenced to four years in prison at Chelmsford Crown Court this afternoon having pleaded guilty to his involvement in a plot to smuggle class B drugs into the UK last month.
Burgess's Australia All But Confirm World Cup Qualification
Cameron Burgess’s Australia all but confirmed qualification for the 2026 World Cup after a 90th-minute Aziz Behich goal saw them to a 1-0 victory over Japan in Perth this afternoon.
Premier League Trio Linked With O'Shea
Blues central defender Dara O’Shea is reported to be interesting his former club Burnley, Wolves and Leeds United.
Head of Analysis Leaves Town
Town’s head of analysis Jamie Osman has left the club after a year to set up an analysis consultancy.
Burgess First of Three Town Players Set For International Action
Cameron Burgess, Axel Tuanzebe and Ali Al-Hamadi - as well as departed loanee Julio Enciso - could all add to their senior caps today with the Australian international the first to get into action at lunchtime.
Boatswain's Montserrat Win
Blues U21s striker Ash Boatswain played the full 90 minutes as Montserrat beat Belize 1-0 in a CONCACAF World Cup qualifier played in Couva, Trinidad & Tobago.
Pitts Wins Cap in Malta U21s Victory
Town youngster Josh Pitts won his first Malta U21s cap as his side beat San Marino 1-0 away in the first of two friendlies earlier this evening.
Delap's Chelsea Move Confirmed
Blues striker Liam Delap’s £30 million move to Chelsea has been confirmed, the frontman having signed a six-year deal.