Great Massingham man Edward Bridgeman will take on Coast to Coast Walk for War Child charity
A Great Massingham man will be stepping out on the well-known Coast to Coast Walk for charity in August with a friend.
Edward Bridgeman, 39, and university friend from Oxford, Sam Cheadle, will trek about 180 miles across the mountains of England carrying their packs and camping gear in the name of War Child UK which raises money for global child victims of war.
They set off around August 16/17, will meet up north and start the walk proper on Thursday, August 18.
He said: "We hope to finish in about two weeks (mainly because we have to be back at work!) which is actually quite tight.
"It's about 180-190 miles and we will be carrying our packs which weigh about 15-20kg (depending on supply levels). We mix 'wild camping' in the mountains and campsites.
"Last year we walked Offa's Dyke Path which is a similar distance along the entire Welsh border in the name of local children's charity Break. We have been doing long distance walking together in some form or another for about twenty years but only recently using to raise money and awareness for good causes."
On why he chose this particular cause, Edward replied: "Along with preservation of natural ecosystems I feel support to child victims of war is the most important in the world today, not only in Ukraine, for three main reasons.
"1. The extent and severity of the harm. Such things horrendously affect many aspects of an individual and society with wider spread and long term effects.
"2. The innocence of the victims who play no part whatsoever in the damage done to them. Just as no ecosystem would destroy itself without external influence so too would no child go to war yet they are the ones who suffer most.
"3. The helplessness of those involved. Just as natural ecosystems do not have ability to protect themselves nor do children in war. They rely on us to help them, and if we do not then no one will."
He can be supported via JustGiving here, while more information about the charity is available on the War Child website.
Edward added: "It is not always easy for people to give to causes to which they feel they have no personal connection and most of us have not been in war zones or met child war victims.
"To those who are unable to give money it is no matter, even to spend five minutes silent reflection and making good wishes for these children is highly beneficial."
