The walkers are raising funds for The Rifles Trust, which provides welfare for veterans in need and their families. Along the route, the veterans will also be collecting donations for Bodmin Keep-Cornwall’s Army Museum which is fundraising to secure its future.

The Cornwall Challenge begins at Tintagel on Friday 12th September and ends at Bodmin Keep on Sunday 14th September. It has been organised by Paul Cocoran and local, Toni Whatley. Paul was recently awarded an MBE for his Services to Rifles Charities and Veterans, and has a long track record of fundraising for military charities.

The 2019 Challenge - ‘Not Just Another Brick in the Wall’, a 50 mile walk along Hadrian’s Wall - raised awareness of PTSD and features in displays at Bodmin Keep.

Paul, known as Coco, says: “Service personnel leave the Forces for many reasons but quickly regret leaving an organisation that is almost family and they miss the close friendship and trust they once had. [The walk] encourages them to start training and get their head focused on their life. They all know if they want a fantastic long weekend they must prepare. I suspect they don't realise what I am doing straight away and before they know it they are on my list, once more part of a Team and they won't let their mates down by not trying.”

If you’d like to support the veterans, look out for them as they walk from Tintagel to Polzeath on day one; Wadebridge to Polzeath on day two, and on day three, Wadebridge to Bodmin. With 80 in the group, they’ll be hard to miss!

Participants' medals will be presented on Sunday 14th September by General Tim Evans, Major Tony Manley, Colonel Tom French and a Warrant Officer Ray Nottingham who is a stalwart of the support team and representatives from Bodmin Keep, Chair Peter Champness and museum Director Helen Bishop-Stephens.

The walk ends with the annual Reunion and service of remembrance organised by The Light Infantry and The Rifles Association with the Lostwithiel Town Band, bar and Singalong with The Wandering Elderberries. All former members of the Regular and Reserve of the DCLI, SCLI, The Light Infantry and The Rifles are welcome to attend the event which starts at 12 noon on Sunday 14th September by contacting Nigel (Jess) James (Tel: 01208 73595).

Bodmin Keep-Cornwall’s Army Museum is the home of The Light Infantry regimental collection, and displays objects relating to military operations in Northern Ireland, The Gulf War, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Paul Cocoran has also donated a SMLE  303 LEE ENFIELD Rifle to the museum’s Collection to mark the occasion. Paul added: “It's about 110 years old and better in the museum where it can be seen for years to come. We are the Custodians of the Cornwall Army Museum and no matter what we must keep it in good repair and encourage the younger generation to see, experience, listen and learn everything that our forebears went through, and understand that is why they and their parents and grandparents are stood here today.”

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