Faslane walking team raised £3,300 for charities

Faslane workers headed to Cumbria to take part in this year’s Keswick to Barrow Walk.

Last Saturday’s event challenged participants to cover the 40 miles between Keswick and Barrow in just one day – 16 staff from the naval base took part and raised a total of £3,300 for several charities.

Those taking part included Royal Navy personnel, Royal Marines, Lockheed Martin, Babcock, MoD Guard Service, AWE, armed forces veterans and forces families. Together they left their hotel in Barrow at 3:45 am to make their way to the start line at Keswick.

Eleven keen walkers completed the 40-mile expedition from Keswick to Barrow (with a further five people and one Labrador called Fin completing the slightly shorter, but equally daunting 21 miles from Coniston to Barrow.

Along with her human team mates, Fin was also presented with a medal and celebratory pie at the finishing line.

Taking part for the first time this year was Sub-Lieutenant Annie Sykes, who said: “I joined the HM Naval Base Clyde Keswick to Barrow Team after seeing the challenge advertised and thought this would be a great way of meeting like-minded people from different organisations in the Base to raise money for well deserving causes.

“The team spirit and determination of everyone involved was truly inspiring.”

The Keswick to Barrow Walk began in 1966 following a statement by President John F Kennedy that “every American should be capable of walking 50 miles a day”.

At that time HMS Resolution was under construction at the Barrow shipyard and several Americans were involved in the project.

Shipyard workers and the crew of HMS Resolution were challenged by their colleagues to form a team to walk from Keswick to Barrow with the first event held on April 1, 1967.

This year the charities benefiting from the Clyde team’s efforts included: Royal Navy Royal Marines Charity, Erskine, Beatson Cancer Care, Alkaptonuria Society and Vale of Leven Autism & Asperger’s Forum.

The funds will be presented to the charities at an awards night in Barrow later in the year.