At the beginning of the 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 The Not Forgotten.
Every single week during the whole of 2026 Rosie is walking or running 28 miles - totalling an incredible 1,456 miles by 31 December! She is being joined by 27 veterans, partners and supporters, forming the formidable ‘Team 28 for 28’.
Each member of the team will be walking or running their own 28 miles per week – a real feat of commitment, perseverance and stamina across the year. Their aim is to raise between them a total of £28,000 for The Not Forgotten.
Now that we're almost three months into the challenge, we thought it was time for an update, sharing some of the stories of the team and how they have been achieving their 28 miles each week.
Sheila Ellson
Sheila is a Wren who served from 1975 - 1984. She now lives in "sunny Hull" and is covering her 28 miles a week walking around Hull and surrounding areas - from the Humber Bridge to the Hull Flood Barrier, the Lost Trawlermen Memorial at St Andrew's Dock to Withnersea Pier. Her '28 for 28' walks have taken in the Rugby League World Cup at MKM Stadium Hull, and coming face to face with Vikings in York!
Tony and Olga
Tony Storr and his partner Olga have been racking up the miles around their hometown of Cheltenham, including doing their local Park Run with someone you might recognise, who served with Tony in 17 Port and Maritime Regiment RCT in late 80s - Dame Kelly Holmes...
Jack Finn-Kelcey
Jack has taken 28 for 28 to the extreme - in February he took a day out of his ski-tutoring in Breckenridge Colorado to ski 28 miles for the challenge (and actually ended up skiing 42!). This month Jack has covered many miles on a trip through Northumberland and Scotland, and conquered Ben Nevis in deep snow!
Others in the team have also been out in all weathers - here is Susie Cumberland near Birmingham, Chris Last in the Mendips and Debbie Matthews near Plymouth.
Ben Roberts
Ben ran the Chelmsford Half Marathon on 1st March to add to his total...
While several like Dave Wakelin and Sarah Reid have roped in their four-legged friends to spur them on their way!
Kiwi the dog - the Team 28 for 28 Mascot
Kiwi is undertaking the 28 for 28 challenge herself - tracked by her owners Martin and Catherine Ash. Over the past 11 weeks she has clocked up an incredible 308 miles on her walks!
And a big thank you to Anne McGinley (who many will recognise from her 25 years' service as TNF's former Events Coordinator) - Anne is not only part of the team walking 28 miles every week but is doing all the admin behind the team effort, logging participants' miles weekly and keeping everyone’s morale boosted.
In support of Team 28 for 28 we are inviting the wider Not Forgotten community to come up with your own ideas for fundraising to the theme of '28'.
Hold a coffee and cake morning for 28 people, craft 28 cuddly toys, complete 28 walks in 28 cities, host an evening of 28 cocktails, organise a sponsored pub crawl around 28 pubs or 28 rounds of golf….
Any idea goes! There is no pressure to raise huge amounts of money, just whatever you can - it might be £28, £128, £280, £528… any amount is wonderful just so long as the end sum has the figure 28 in it somewhere! Every 28 for 28 Fundraiser will receive a limited-edition badge and certificate as a thank you for their support.
Ang Reynolds
Ang has set herself the challenge of painting 28 pictures in 28 weeks, beginning on March 1st and ending on 13 September. Her paintings will all be different styles, mediums and sizes. Above is her first painting "I wanted this to be a special one for The Not Forgotten so it is the symbol of the charity, the elephant head", and her second, a beautiful hare in soft pastels. Using her incredible talent Ang has already raised almost £1,000!
Chris Whitehead has knitted 28 chicks and ladybirds with creme eggs inside, to sell for Easter.
While Carin Pollexfen-Smith is making 28 Christmas cakes throughout the year to sell in the festive season.
JJ Adams has set herself a personal weight-loss challenge of shedding 28lbs (2 stone) in 28 weeks.
Maggie Lawlor swam 28 lengths every day during the 28 days of February.
Keith Potter
Keith tabbed 28 miles over 7 days in early March, carrying 28 lbs in his pack. He covered his challenge on his YouTube channel 'Let's Tab 59' and got huge support, giving each of his sponsors a public shout out to say thank you personally - and raised a phenomenal £5,282!
Gaz Humphrey has been in hospital for nearly 4 weeks but hasn't let that deter him from fundraising - here he had completed 28 laps of his hospital ward!
Teresa Barrow
Teresa has crocheted 300 crochet poppies: "My target was 280 but I carried on until the wool ran out!" Not only are Teresa's poppies raising money for '28 for 28' but they are being taken to Normandy to form part of the Standing with Giants memorial installation. Now she has finished the poppies, Teresa has started on her next '28 for 28' crochet challenge, creating 28 elephants (called 'June' after TNF's cuddly elephant mascot Juno) - each elephant will take Teresa a week to make.
Irene Jackman is holding coffee and cake day on 24th April, with a lucky dip containing 28 prizes
While Suzanne Groake-Oliver is hosting a garden party in Royal Wootton Bassett, with 28 items of food and drinks to chose from!
And possibly the cutest fundraiser...
Grady the guide dog, belonging to Sue Eyles, is aiming to be photographed in different locations wearing 28 different bow ties throughout the year! This one is a bespoke TNF bow tie Sue had made specially. How smart does he look!
The total raised by the '28 for 28' Fundraising Campaign so far is over £17,000!
And that's only three months into the year - think what our 28 for 28 Team and Community can raise by December! Keep following our social media for updates or sign up to the TNF newsletter
To make a donation in support of Team 28 for 28 go to the 28 for 28 JustGiving page
