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| Day 7 - Portsmouth, Hampshire |
Today marked the end of the first full week of the BRIT 2012 Challenge and I have completed 72 of the 2012 miles. As people are learning more about the challenge they seem excited to participate. The BRIT 2012 Planning Team is working feverishly to get my schedule confirmed and soon you’ll be able to see it on my website.
My day began early with a 0735 radio interview with BBC Radio Solent. I had a great time talking about the challenge and hopefully enthusing people to get involved. My sincere thanks to BBC Radio Solent for the opportunity to talk about the BRIT 2012 challenge and I am looking forward to their invitation to come back regularly with updates.
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Sharing some laughter with Young
People who came to wave me off |
My messaging during interviews is clear; I am walking 2012 miles around Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man to raise the profile of BRIT and raise funds from 2012 businesses to build a Centre in West Sussex for charities and young people that will serve the United Kingdom. The public are so generous, but one of the main values of BRIT is to not ask the public directly for funds, as we do not want to take funds away from other charities. So my challenge to businesses is to come together and build a legacy for young people facing their darkest times. This is visionary and I am asking for pledges so that we can champion the businesses who step forward and let everyone know they are part of something very special. If you work for a company, please encourage them to support BRIT.
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Great support from Portsmouth Fire Station
Hampshire Fire Service |
After my radio interview it was a drive to Portsmouth and the Historic Dockyard to meet up with my walking companions for the day, The Royal Navy, the Hampshire Fire Service and some great friends and supporters. What a great area for the walk today as there is so much history in one location. HMS Warrior and HMS Victory looked magnificent with a number of Royal Navy ships in the background.
I also did an interview with Liz Allaway from Wave 105 prior to the start this morning. If you go on their website at
www.wave105.com and access their twitter feed you can hear the radio interview and see a video of the start of the walk this morning.
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A very special honour
to be joined by buglers
from the Royal Marines Band |
I had the privilege of walking today with the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, Hampshire Fire Services and young people. In fact the Royal Marine Band played to kick off the walk this morning. What a fantastic way to start!
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Setting off with wonderful support from Young People, Hampshire Fire Service & The Royal Navy |
Thank you to the Fire Service for showing up and supporting me again! They’ve been at each of my walks and I really appreciate it. I am deeply grateful to the Armed Forces for their support of the challenge. They are fully behind the challenge and will be with me in different locations throughout the year. The Armed Forces are raising funds in their local areas to support charities as a way to say thank you for all the support the public has shown them over the past decade.
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Joined by RSM (WO1) Kat Gallagher
who never left my side when I was injured,
and Divya Kohli from ITV Meridian News |
I would like to thank John Maddison for all his work in helping to organize today and for walking with me and also to Helen Stuttard who is volunteering her time to photograph my walk this week.
I completed the day with an interview for Meridian Tonight with Divya Kholi, which will be broadcast tomorrow night (31st January) at 6 p.m.
On Tuesday I’m walking at The Rosebowl cricket ground in West End, Hampshire, Wednesday I’ll be walking on the Isle of Wight and on Thursday I’m walking with youth at Dunsfold Park. Do register for the challenge and be part of this journey with me.
Another 10 miles down and 1940 to go!
Phil
