At the beginning of this year we announced the launch of the 'Team 28 for 28' Challenge - a physical fundraising challenge marking the retirement of our Head of Events Rosie Thompson after an incredible 28 years' service to The Not Forgotten.
Rosie is walking or running 28 miles every single week during 2026 - totalling 1,456 miles by 31 December - and has been joined in this challenge by 27 veterans, partners and supporters forming the formidable ‘Team 28 for 28’, each team member covering their own 28 miles per week.
Not only are the core team putting in the graft; supporters and beneficiaries have been working hard to sponsor and fundraise in support of the Team, hosting fundraising events, crafting and painting, skydiving, cycling and making generous donations.
Meanwhile our Regional Connect Weeks this summer included our '28 For 28 Party Tour' - parties in each region bringing veterans together for fun afternoons of team games and quizzes, and the chance to cheer on Rosie and the 28 For 28 team in their region.
So how is the Team 28 For 28 Challenge getting on, nine months in?
Team 28 For 28 have covered literally hundreds of miles between them this summer, building their walking, running (and even rowing) into their everyday routines, or setting out on special challenges.
Eddie Stephenson covered 86 miles during a week's holiday in Majorca; Sheila Ellson covered 80 miles during the first two weeks of September in memory of her partner who would have been 80 on 15th September; Danni King took part in a 2000m row test, ranking first in her age group; Tony Yarwood walked round Derwent Dam in the Peak District - where the Dam Busters practised before their famous raid; Tony Etheridge completed 27 miles on one of the summer's hottest days; Anthony Storr and Olga have been walking around London rather than taking the tube or bus; and Martin Beard completed the 25km Dartmoor 'Great Escape'. Huge thanks must go to Anne McGinley busily working behind the scenes logging everyone’s mileages.
In June, Rosie was invited by Ascot Racecourse to walk a lap of their famous course to raise awareness of 28 For 28 - thank you to Jacqui Greet, Ascot’s Corporate Social Values Manager for arranging this opportunity.In each of the regions we visited for this year's Regional Connect Weeks the teams also gathered to walk together with Rosie, and with other beneficiaries such as a group from Hardwick House supported accommodation in Middlesbrough.
“I feel honoured to be part of Team 28 For 28 - it is amazing. I have made great friends.”
“Thanks to Team 28 for 28 for your support and encouragement. It’s given me a focus and the confidence to get back walking."
“This has been a life saver for me.”
Whilst the core Team 28 For 28 have been out clocking up the miles, many other members of our community have been supporting the campaign by fundraising in all sorts of imaginative and inspiring ways.
Angela Reynolds has painted a beautiful work of art every week for 28 weeks, selling them to raise over £2,800 so far. Tony Yarwood has painted 28 poppy paintings which were raffled on our party tour raising over £1,000, while Dawn Broughton donated a wonderful original painting of 28 events.
Alli Calthorpe has made and sold 28 bespoke handbags carefully crafted from old WRAF uniform. Dorothy Mitchelmore, supported by members of the East Riding North Lincolnshire WRAC, has held a vintage tea party, a barbecue and a car boot sale.
Chris Powell held a veterans' lunch in Shrewsbury and Nicola Batty a Summer Ball in Hull. Christine Thorpe is doing a skydive, Karen Redford a cycle challenge, and Chris Last held a Charity Summer Seminar at his gym, Samurai Fitness. Meanwhile Maggie Fowers raised £650 by doing 28 massages, JJ Adams is being sponsored to lose 28lb in 28 weeks, and Pete Lygo raised £150 from decluttering his house!
Alongside these fundraising feats we have received hundreds of generous donations from people simply wanting to bring the team closer to their total, from those giving monthly, to one-off donors like Pat Rosewell personally donating £100 and Al Gardner of Honey Legal committing an incredible £4,000.
This is just a selection of the 28 For 28 fundraising going on this year - we are indebted to everyone who is out there doing it! If you've done something for the campaign let us know - email info@thenotforgotten.org or drop us a line on social media.
We are thrilled to announce that as of the end of September, the grand total raised by the 28 For 28 Campaign sits at a whopping £46,422.96, far exceeding the campaign goal of reaching £28,000 by December! Although the Team have smashed their target they are keen to push onwards and raise even more money for The Not Forgotten.
Fired up by the extraordinary generosity of those who have supported them so far and by the sense of personal pride and satisfaction in continuing their challenge, they will continue to pace out 28 miles every single week for the final three months of the year.
We look forward to announcing their final total in December!
Our 28 For 28 Party tour visited Lowestoft, Southend-on-Sea, Lympstone Devon, Cornwall, Surrey, Isle of Wight, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Nottingham, Lincoln, Shrewsbury, Blackpool and Ilkeston between May and September, giving TNF beneficiaries the opportunity to get involved in '28 For 28' in a fun, social way. The events brought together everything our veteran community loves about The Not Forgotten: camaraderie, team challenges, great music and, most importantly, a conga! They allowed veterans to escape their day-to-day challenges for a few hours, as well as cheer on Rosie and her team members in each region. This was an important part of making the whole Not Forgotten community a part of 28 For 28, as well as key to our regional connection programme.
Our thanks go to Keith Rossiter Webb (South West), Jan and Ron Foster (Leeds) and Michelle Ruzzak and Mark Worthington (East Midlands) for giving up their time to volunteer and donating large numbers of raffle prizes at our 28 For 28 Party events. A special mention must go to Debbie and Frank Matthews who have travelled all round the country in support of the whole tour, volunteering at every party and joining the regional walks.
"What an absolute blast, don’t think anyone wanted it to end, we were all having so much fun!! Partied with old friends, and made some new ones. Had the privilege of being in the room with two Second World War veterans at 101 and 102, joining in the fun, both having a spotlight moment on the mic, absolute heroes! It was a HOOT! To the 28 For 28 Team, in the words of Strictly, keeeeeep walking!!" - Jacqui
"The 28 For 28 Party was such an enjoyable event for me. The entertainments were fun and challenging - a morale booster to be with likeminded people and relax for three hours away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It was great to be able to support Rosie and the Team 28 For 28 in some small way. I am not confident enough to be able to set up my own ideas for fundraising but attending a Team 28 For 28 event made me feel part of the challenge." - Betty
| Anthony Etheridge - Royal Anglian Regiment Andy McErlean - REME Anne McGinley - TNF Volunteer Anthony Storr - 17 Port & Maritime Regiment Ben Roberts - Royal Anglian Regiment Chris Last - Royal Marine Danni King - Army Air Corps Dave Hart - Devon & Dorset Regiment Dave Wakelin - Royal Pioneer Corps Debbie Matthews - Wife of Royal Marine Eddie Stephenson - Royal Logistics Corps Gary Robinson - Adjutant General’s Corps (SPS) Jack Finn-Kelcey - 3 Para Jules Walker - Royal MarineMark Worthington - REME Martin Beard - Princess of Wales’s Royal Regt. Martin Lewis - Supporter Martin Wilson - 2 Para Michelle Ruzzak - Royal Air Force Olga Tkachova - Partner of Anthony Storr Rosie Thompson Sara Reid - Royal Army Medical Corps Sarah Post – Wife of TNF Trustee Sheila Ellson - Royal Navy Simon Post - TNF Trustee Steve Ridholls - Royal Air Force Regiment Suzie Cumberland - Adjutant General’s Corps Tony Yarwood - 2 Para |
| A huge thank you to the team for their dedication, perseverance and enthusiasm so far! |
