14 dedicated supporters trekked the Pyrenees for five days in September to raise money for the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF). The first of four Frontline Walks this autumn, this recreated one of the many World War 2 (WW2) escape routes from Vichy France across the mountains to Spain.
We are hearing from participants of each Frontline Walk about their experiences. We spoke first with Pyrenees trek participant, Nigel Cairns, on his return from Spain. Nigel, from Buckinghamshire, previously served in the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and now runs his own company. He has exceeded the fundraising target of £2,200 for the walk, thanks to his generous friends and family.
“A fantastic experience from start to finish!”
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It was a fantastic experience from start to finish. For many years, I had wanted to walk in the footsteps of the brave souls who escaped over the mountains from France to Spain in World War Two. I signed up immediately when I heard about the Frontline Walk – Pyrenees Escape Route, in aid of the Army Benevolent Fund.
“My old friend, Neil, joined too and we called our team the Mad Mules. With the support of our families, friends and colleagues we have raised almost £5,000 for the ABF. A very generous friend asked for donations instead of wedding gifts from their guests – I did the same for my 30th wedding anniversary.
“The walk itself from Mont Louis in France to Ripoll in Catalonia was quite demanding (10-15km each day), through a breathtaking landscape and with heights of 2000+m. I have never tasted air that pure! While I am pretty fit, I’d never been higher than Ben Nevis. So, I hiked parts of the Cambrian Way to prepare and acclimatised myself to carrying a heavy rucksack.
“We were following in the footsteps of allied servicemen and Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied France, including Chalky White, Virginia Hall and my great hero, Nancy Wake. During meals and as we walked, we heard stories of the bravery of these escapees and the ‘passeurs’ who helped them. It was pretty emotional at the border to experience the sense of freedom which they would have felt, knowing they had finally reached Spain.
“There was great camaraderie amongst the walkers, and Will and Suzy, our course leaders from the ABF, made us feel welcome. We are all still in touch on WhatsApp.
“It was both challenging and spiritually refreshing to complete this trek while fundraising for a charity that provides vital assistance to soldiers, for life.
“I would definitely recommend it. It’s a real adventure and a life-affirming experience where you get to meet like-minded people, and form bonds that last throughout the trek and beyond.”
Will Tower, Regional Director, South East, Army Benevolent Fund, who led the Walk, said:
“A huge thank you to Nigel and his fellow Frontline Walk participants who have raised many thousands of pounds for the Army Benevolent Fund, the Army’s national charity. Ably led by guides from TrekPyrenees, this was an exciting, fun and challenging trek involving climbs of over 2300m, negotiating very steep terrain, with incredible scenery along the way. It was my pleasure to lead this group, commemorating the bravery of WW2 escapees whilst supporting the veterans and soldiers of today.”
Frontline Walk Crete – From Sea to Summit – join us in 2025
Next year, we will be moving from Spain to the rugged terrain and warm hospitality of Crete. Join us for another challenging trek – this time covering coastline trails, steep hills and mountain gorges, with the landscapes telling the history of the fierce Battle of Crete during WW2.
The Frontline Walk 2024: Crete-Sea to Summit (armybenevolentfund.org)