Join the Salisbury Plain 100km Challenge!

07 September 2021

The Salisbury Plain 100km Challenge takes place this month and will raise money for SSAFA and the Motor Neurone Disease Association.

The challenge consists of a 100km walk over 5 days around the Salisbury Plain Training Area in Wiltshire between 20 - 24 September.

On Monday 20 September, the fundraising event will begin at Warminster and finish on Friday 24 September at West Hill Farm, near Warminster.

Participants, who can choose to take part in one or more days, will walk approximately 20km per day around the Training Area using open paths and bye-ways across the landscape.

On the fifth and final day, the challenge will include a 2km wheelchair accessible route for those with Motor Neurone Disease (MND), and a picnic at the end, provided by catering company Elior UK.

The walk has been created by local Army veteran, David Rose, who was diagnosed with MND in 2020, to raise awareness of the disease.

Despite the pandemic, David and his wife, Isabel, have received first class support from the MND Association and the NHS. As a result, he is keen to give something back to the organisations who have supported him, while he still can.

A keen supporter of SSAFA and the MND Association, David and his friends aim to raise £10,000 for them by taking on the 100km walk.

The challenge also aims to raise awareness of MND: there is a 1 in 300 risk of being diagnosed with the disease, which is life-shortening and has no cure. However, symptoms can be managed to help achieve the best possible quality of life.

David said: “I was diagnosed with MND last year after a 34-year Army career, having always been a huge sports fan. But I’m not giving in - with back-up from SSAFA and the MND Association, I’m determined to organise this challenge, after spending years walking across the Training Area for leisure and as a soldier.”

“Although I can’t manage more than about 3km a day now, I’ve already made a start on completing the whole distance by the end of the challenge!”

“I’m encouraging the maximum number of people to sign up and have a fun walk, learn more about MND and raise money for great causes.”

Verity Harding, SSAFA’s Head of Events, added: “This will be a very rewarding event to take part in, whether for just one day or several. I’d encourage people to register for a really fun challenge in a great cause.”

Pamela Fry, MND Association Regional Fundraiser for the South East, said: “MND is a devastating disease for which currently there is no cure nor effective treatments - but there is work underway in laboratories and clinics across the world to change that.”

“The MND Association is a leader in the funding and promotion of cutting-edge MND research and, last December, we had a research grant portfolio of around £14M”.

“In addition, the Association improves care and support for people with MND, as well as campaigning and raising awareness so the needs of people with MND and everyone who cares for them are recognised by wider society.”

“We can only support that level of work thanks to people like David, and his family and friends who have chosen to support the Association’s work.”