- Challenge The Wild has partnered with SALEWA UK, Outdooractive, OverBoard and Swift Campervans to support the expedition.
- A team of veterans and civilians will travel to Normandy on June 6th, 2024, to return a handful of sand taken from Juno Beach in June 1944.
- The team will then trek more than 150 km, visiting each of the five Normandy beaches used during the D-Day landings.
Challenge The Wild and the Armed Forces charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) are pleased to announce the Partners supporting the historic D-Day 80 Expedition set for 6 June 2024.
A team of veterans and civilians will land on Juno Beach on June 6th to return a handful of sand taken from the beach eighty years ago. Afterwards, the team will join the official D-Day commemorations and embark on a three-day, 150-kilometre trek. During this journey, they will visit key sites from the D-Day landings, including Utah Beach (Isigny-sur-Mer), Omaha Beach (St. Laurent-sur-Mer), Gold Beach (Ver-sur-Mer), Juno Beach Centre (Courseulles-sur-Mer), and Sword Beach (Ouistreham).
Tony Hulton, CEO of WWTW, said,
“We are thrilled to be part of this historic D-Day Expedition, honouring the sacrifices of those who served eighty years ago. Our heartfelt thanks go to Dan and Challenge The Wild for their ongoing support, and to the dedicated team fundraising to support those who served.”
Dan Searson, Founder and CEO of Challenge The Wild, said
“I am incredibly grateful for the support of the D-Day 80 Expedition Partners. The expedition enables us all to be part of the national and international commemorations of events 80 years ago. This expedition is close to my heart not only because funds raised will go towards supporting Walking With The Wounded and those who served, but because by returning the sand to Juno beach, I am fulfilling my late-grandfathers last wish.”
Craig Wareham, Outdooractive UK CEO, commented,
“Outdooractive is honoured to stand alongside the Challenge The Wild team in their mission to commemorate the enduring spirit of our veteran community, serving as the dedicated mapping and tracking partner for the D-Day 80 Expedition. As fervent proponents of adventure and exploration, we understand the transformative power of immersing oneself in nature and history.”
Gus McKendrick, Sales Manager at SALEWA UK, said,
“We are honoured to support the expedition team and the Armed Forces community because they embody our brand’s belief in the adventurous spirit and the strength that comes from teamwork and camaraderie. The challenging and often hazardous tasks they undertake are a true reflection of their courage and resilience.
“It’s a privilege to back the D-Day 80 Expedition and to commemorate those who fought so bravely 80 years ago.”
Joel Meadows, Managing Director at OverBoard, added,
“We’re thrilled to stand alongside Walking With The Wounded in supporting the D-Day 80 Expedition. At OverBoard, we believe in the healing power of adventure and community. Together, we’re honored to empower veterans as they conquer new challenges and find camaraderie in the wild.”
The D-Day 80 Expedition will launch from Chartwell, in Kent, the former family home of Sir Winston Churchill. Katherine Carter, Chartwell’s Curator, said,
“D-Day was the culmination of years of planning, with Sir Winston Churchill having played a key role, having helped to instigate the ‘Mulberry’ artificial harbours, which were integral to the success of the operation. But it also opened up a new phase of the war; a bitter struggle in which thousands of lives were lost for the cause of the liberation of Europe from tyranny.
As the home of Churchill and his family, with collections adorning the walls that tell the story of D-Day and Operation Overlord, we are delighted to be able to host the D-Day 80 Expedition in honour of all those who took part in the largest amphibious invasion in history, 80 years ago.”
To find out more, please visit: The D-Day Expedition (ddayexpedition.co.uk)
For further information and to support the expedition, please contact Dan Searson, Dan@challengethewild.com
