44-mile D-Day Challenge: Running the Normandy beaches in support of our veterans
In honour of the service men and women who have bravely fought to protect our way of life, I will be taking on the Combat Stress D-Day Challenge to commemorate the 1944 Allied invasion of occupied France and raise critical funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans.
On 6th June this year - the 80th anniversary of D-Day - I have the privilege of running in the footsteps of those who risked everything for us: 44 miles across the landing beaches from Pointe du Hoc to Pegasus Bridge.
With just the last precious few of our WW2 veterans still with us, honouring the incredible sacrifices of our greatest generation is as important as ever and reminds us of the emotional difficulties those who served then and since can face on returning home.
Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.
I am paying all the costs associated with this challenge so any sponsorship you can generously give goes 100% to support the brilliant work Combat Stress do with our veterans.
Thanks for your support
My Achievements
Created a Team
Uploaded Profile Pic
Shared fundraising page
First Donation
Raised £250
Raised £500
Raised £750
Raised £1000
Reached Fundraising Goal
Thank you to my Sponsors
£21.20
Anne Bennett
£10
Sarita Heard
Such an incredible thing to do Alex. Huge well done from all The Heards x
£41
Lee Mc
Well done you lunatic.
£6
Holly Baker
£46.64
John And Ewa Stevens
Fantastic achievement Alex
£10.60
Joanna Frankfurt
£40.28
Jennifer James
Well done Alex. It's such a great cause and such an important day.
£21.20
Chris & Susie
Well done Alex!!!
£20
Nicci Walker
Brilliant!
£10
Julia Noble
Well done Alex, what an amazing cause!
£21.20
Neil Walker
Very impressive Alex
£20
Jamie And Hannah
£237.44
Generation Investment Management
£422.07
Freshfields Matched Funding
£21.20
Juliet Hancock
Good luck Alex with this amazing challenge in a great cause. It will be a day to remember, as it needs to be.
£44
Teens
Amazing work my friend
£50
Ellie Godfrey
Good Luck Alex
£31.80
Alex Newman
Good luck!
£28.62
Kate Cervantes
Good luck Alex! 💪
£20.90
Rob & Nonny Kinchin-smith
Good luck Alex! Love Rob and Non xx
£121
Lloydy And Bruce Sprinsgteen (via Sin)
Fabulous effort and great cause. Look out for my sister on the beaches! Lloydy
£28
Iain Gunn
Good luck Alex
£21.20
Hugh Bakere
£5.30
Hugh Bakere
Well done
£26.50
Rob Bradshaw
£20.90
Sin
Amazing! Nearly hit the target too.
£20.90
Mark Bentman
Best of luck Alex. I’ve no doubt you’ll do this!
£56
Abigail Hunt
£50
Anonymous
£52.25
John Beales
£53
Annie Redgrave
Great challenge, great cause. Well done Alex!
£46.64
Richard Neil Adams
Think of Holly's great uncle Geoffrey as you pass along Gold Beach. Well done and many thanks for your efforts!
£60
The Ramsey Crew
This should get you to your target :) good luck Alex! J, M, M, H, H & M xx
£45.98
Annie Whiteside
Fabulous effort Alex - an extra £1 per mile to keep you going! Love Annie & Tom xx
£200
Nick Lindsay
That is a huge feat. Really well done.
£21.20
Anonymous
£20
Ian White
Good luck Alex, you show that sand who's boss ;-)
£106
Sue Kinchin-smith
Although you must be slightly mad to attempt a 44 mile run, it’s a fab cause and a fitting setting for the run. Good luck and enjoy! Sue x
£106
Chris Kinchin-smith
Good luck, Alex
£50
Ros Ni Dhubhain
Good luck Alex!
£100
Ollie Lazenby
£52.25
Babak Hakimian
£106
Julian Pritchard
£46.64
Graham
Good cause, good luck!
£31.35
Emma Sekhon
Go Alex goooo! Much love from The Sekhons xxx
£44
Peter Odor
Best of luck mate!
£612
Freshfields Matched Funding
£39.71
David Mccall
£44
Mum
£30
Turners
Good on you Alex
£50
The Pricthards
£21.20
Ros And Dave Atchison
Good running!
£118.72
Sin
Great cause and will be an amazing run, maybe join you next time!
£30
Max And Marilyn Gosling
Well done, Alex.
£106
Tobias Latham
Good luck Alex. A (very small) part of me wishes I was lining up with you to take on this amazing challenge.
£53
Alan & Elaine Knox
We are full of admiration Alex. X
£104.50
Ian Knox
£20
Anonymous
£46.64
Amanda Gosling
£44
Tina
Great cause Alex. Good luck!
£46.64
The Bakers
What an amazing challenge and great charity!!
£31
Clare, Glyn And Lucia
You are amazing! Hope it goes really well xx
£20
Benson Family
Go Alex!
£50
Paul Toolan
Best of luck Alex!
£21.20
Dad
£106
Nancy And Hugh Smith
A huge challenge for a great cause. We are proud of you.
£40
Af
Amazing effort. Good luck!
£20.90
Hywel
Excellent work and cause!
£52.25
Simon Maisey
That day, for no particular reason, I decided to go for a little run. So I ran to the end of the road. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd run to the end of town. And when I got there, I thought maybe I'd just run across Normandy…
£26.13
Matt Cox
£52.25
Katie Kinchin-smith
Wonderful cause Alex. Amazing work, good luck with the. Katie & Seb xx
£400
Offline Donations
£30
Michael, Emily, Chloe And Josh
Fantastic cause and effort…Don’t forget the Jelly Babies!
£30
The Newmanators
You are a true hero!
£212
Holly Baker
Very proud of you! X
£52.25
Adrian And Helena
Wonderful cause, very emotional and bloody impressive challenge. Good luck Alex and make us proud.
