A 22-year-old from Ipswich is walking 44 miles in tribute to fallen British service members
The fundraiser started at 4am and honours the 7,193 troops lost since WWII
Last updated 15th Jul 2025
A Suffolk fundraiser is part-way through a gruelling 44-mile stretcher walk to raise money for Help for Heroes – carrying a six-foot bear mascot from a tiny village in Essex all the way to central London.
Fin Brown, 21, from Ipswich, set off at 4 am this morning (Tuesday, the 15th of July) from Bradfield, one of the UK’s few communities that lost no soldiers in the First World War. He’s due to finish at the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial in Victoria Embankment Gardens around 7 pm.
“The distance is calculated for 10 metres for every soldier that's been killed in combat, peacekeeping or conflict tours since the end of the Second World War – which is 7,193,” Fin explained. “So that comes out to about 44 miles.”
At the heart of the walk is Hero Bear, Help for Heroes’ iconic mascot, strapped to the stretcher and carrying a donation bucket for passers-by.
The walk is the second of three fundraising challenges organised by Fin through his ‘Lights, Camera, Combat’ podcast, following a brutal Three Peaks Challenge in June. Next month, he plans to lift the weight of a WWII tank using a 25kg military rucksack at London’s Waterloo Station.
“Which is again an absolutely mental thing that I decided to do,” he said. “And I’m not too sure why I decided to do it.”
Fin, who now works part-time for Help for Heroes, said his goal is simple – to shine a light on those who’ve served. “We want to make sure people kind of fly the flag and are aware of it,” he said. “It’s not about getting in the way of anyone’s daily commute – it’s about recognising the people who’ve given so much.”
Across all three challenges, he’s hoping to raise £5,000 for the charity.
“Anything is super appreciated,” Fin added. “If people see us on the day and want to have a chat, find out more or spare a little bit of change, hopefully we’ll get there.”
Help for Heroes supports veterans and their families with their physical and mental health, welfare and social needs. The charity says it won’t stop until every veteran gets the support they deserve, whether they served in WWII or Afghanistan.
Fin says it’s important we remember that sacrifice spans generations: “This year marks 80 years since the end of World War II, and also 20 years since the 7/7 attacks. The threats have changed, but the courage of our forces hasn’t. This walk is about honouring all of them.”