June Update
End of April Update

End of March Update
Well, what a difference a month makes. As politicians grapple with the appropriate way to deal with Covid-19 and shut down the economy as they do so. As the news simply lists numbers of dead (rather like the success measure for offensives in the first world war - deaths continue to rise but the curve is flattening...). And some countries (Sweden, Belarus, and Brazil - not usually found in the same sentence) take a more sanguine approach. I have purchased new OS maps of my local area!
According to Strava (which has miscalculated because it does not know I am miserable at remembering to charge my mobile phone sufficiently) estimates I have spent 14 hours walking and covered approximately 70km in March. Which is good, but I do have to walk 100km in three days (assuming October is a good time for communal events...). I am, you will be pleased to know, on track in April so far!
Finally, if anybody actually reads this, keep safe. And, thank you for donating. If you would like to add another contribution then that would be great since charity receipts have plummeted in the past month. And, if you can give blood - stocks are already down 15% xx
February Update
So, I have not really followed my training plan! I blame the weather and events. Anyway, I did manage half a dozen of the one hour to one and a half hour walks - but I need to up my game. So, I am endeavouring to follow the March training programme! Luckily, the real training is not expected to start until July - when I hope I will have raised the outstanding cash (although donations are a little slow). If you did donate since the last update - then, THANK YOU (and thank you too to all you early adopters).
First Blog!

So, although the walk is over eight months away, I have a training schedule. This is not the 'actual' training schedule that starts twelve weeks before the event; this is the pre-training. Which considering my post-Christmas/New Year condition is more than needed. Over the next few months, I will keep you in touch with my progress (which I will also try to remember to record on Strava).
So, for February I propose to focus on going out regularly for shorter walks of forty-five minutes to an hour with a slightly longer one of two to three hours once a week. I should be walking three or four times a week.
There is a suggestion I should enrol in a pilates or yoga class... but that may be a step (no pun intended) too far. However, I will commit to improving my core, leg, and upper body strength with a few 'high planks', 'lunges', and 'bicep curls'...
Anyway, I will, as I say, let you know how it all goes. My next post should be at about this time in February.
I am fundraising for ABF The Soldiers' Charity
I'm taking part in the Frontline Walk - a 100km trek to commemorate the sacrifices made by those who fought for our freedom whilst helping to support the soldiers and veterans of today.
I will walk in memory of my Great Uncle Ronald Thomson (the profile image), a tunneller who died in January 1917, after being wounded near Vimy Ridge. His mother was at his bedside. And, Joe Connelly, the Great Uncle of my wife, who died in the spring offensive in 1918, he had wanted to be a jockey.
It will be a physically and emotionally tough challenge, but I'm doing it all for a great cause: ABF The Soldiers' Charity, the National Charity of the British Army. They support soldiers, veterans and their families when they need it most.
Please cheer me on by making a donation towards my target - I'll be forever grateful!
My Achievements

Raised £0

Raised £100

Raised £250

Raised £500

Raised £1,000

Raised £1,500

Raised £2,000

Raised £3,000

Raised £5,000

Raised £10,000

Raised £20,000

Raised £40,000

Raised £60,000

Raised £80,000

Raised £100,000
Thank you to my Sponsors

£300
Andrew Mellor

£250
Annie And Dick
Hope you are in training! Good luck with your march..

£125
Andrew Mellor

£52.50
Alex Robertson
This should be easy after all your Nijmegen trips. Good luck with both the training and of course the walk!

£52.50
Ronald Mellor
Good fortune attend your efforts.

£52.50
Katie Outhwaite
Blimey that is a long way you know...

£52.50
Sophie O
Good luck!

£50
Mohammed Darr
Very good cause Andrew good luck and I am sure you will do it.

£50
Ian Harrison
All the very best Andrew

£40
Philip & Elizabeth Wade

£31.50
Sarah Chandler
Very worthy cause, Andrew., and lovely to commemorate the great uncles in this way.

£31.50
Teresa Russell
Smash it 👊🏽🙌🏽

£30
Gail Chambers
Go smash it Andy!

£26.25
David Langston
Nice one

£26.25
Thomas Pittaway
Andrew it is a great cause and I wish you all the best.

£26.25
Helen & Guy Pettengell
Good luck.

£26.25
Mike Seabourne
Well done Andrew a very worthy cause

£26.25
Simon Walls
Faugh A Ballagh

£26.25
Stewart O’neill
Great cause; good luck.

£26.25
Jeff Davies
Good luck Andrew

£26.25
Keith Murray
Good luck with it, Andrew!

£25
Ev
Good luck, Andrew

£25
Nigel Hughes
Good luck Mr Mellor, we will follow your progress while sipping a Belgian beer 🍺

£25
Janice Childs
Good Luck Andrew

£25
K-say

£23
Anonymous

£21
Anonymous

£21
Mike Sullivan.
Good luck!

£21
Wayne Henley
Good luck 👍

£21
Michael Johnson

£21
John Kirsop
Good Luck All The Best

£20
Melanie Oliver

£15.75
Rachael Mellor

£15.75
John Allen
Best of luck

£10.50
Gary Russell
Best of luck (ex cp6)

£10.50
Keith Charlton
Good luck from a fellow EMU

£10
Gail Chambers
Good Luck Andy

£10
Emma Parker
From Emma Parker

£10
Steve Aldridge
Good Luck on your walk Andy

£5.25
Dan
Currently at Bishopsgate! Good luck