Raging fires at the Longmore Forest on June 07, 2017 in Knysna, South Africa. More than 10 000 people were forced to flee their homes overnight as fires fuelled by storm winds ripped through the Western Cape coastal town.
SA Legionnaire to walk the Nijmegen March to raise funds for #KnysnaFire victims
The Nijmegen March begins on the last Tuesday in July.
Raging fires at the Longmore Forest on June 07, 2017 in Knysna, South Africa. More than 10 000 people were forced to flee their homes overnight as fires fuelled by storm winds ripped through the Western Cape coastal town.
First started in 1909, the 30-mile walk over four days began as a military event and has expanded annually to include civilians. All these years later, civilians outnumber military members 8:1 and a limit to the number of walkers each year has had to be implemented.
The Nijmegen March has gained such popularity over the years that citizens of 60 countries attend each year with over a dozen militaries represented in marching teams.
This is the only march of its kind, during which uniformed personnel can show their support in a festive environment, everybody focusing on the same goal – crossing the finish line.
On 18th July 2017, Legionnaire Claudio Chistè, Chairman of the South African Legion England Branch, will embark on the first leg of a 4-day 200km march as one of 47,000 participants in the International Four Days March in Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
The motto of the SA Legion of Military Veterans is ‘Not for Ourselves, but for Others’. This is epitomised by Claudio’s involvement in this march which he will complete in order to raise funds for two causes close to his heart – supporting those affected by the recent Knysna Fires and contributing to a fund so that the SA Legion can assist SA Military Veterans in the UK who have fallen on hard times.
To raise awareness of these causes, Claudio will represent all South African Veterans on the march by wearing his distinctive green SA Legion beret and displaying an SA flag on his backpack.
Funds are desperately required to assist the 8,000 to 10,000 residents of the greater Knysna area who were displaced by the devastating fires which raged for several days, many of those losing everything as the wind-driven fires destroyed over 1,000 homes and damaged a further 385.
The runaway fires destroyed homes and possessions indiscriminately, regardless of whether they were humble or grand, with everyone being affected. Those from the poorest areas will not have had the benefit of insurance to help them start again and are desperately in need of assistance.
Claudio’s aim is to raise £2,000.00 with 50% of this sum going equally towards each cause. Any surplus funding will go to the SA Legion.
To support these worthy causes and make a difference, go to the following link https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/knysnafireandsouthafricanlegionuk
