SIX men are marching 3,863 miles across Britain while carrying to raise funds for military and emergency service charities. 

The team started the march on October 1 in Portsmouth and have already marched over 3,000 miles.

Yesterday (November 8) they marched through Oxford, stopping at St George’s Barracks, Bicester, Vauxhall Barracks, Didcot and then on to RAF Benson. They are now heading south towards London.

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The ‘Yompathon’ team come from all over the UK, representing the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force as well as the Police, Ambulance and Fire services.

The ‘Yompers’ march will take just over six weeks and cover England, Wales and Scotland. The team are on the move continually, in relay fashion, covering an average of 97miles per 24-hour period, stopping only at the guardrooms of military and naval bases and emergency service providers along the way.

Carrying a heavy backpack whilst marching ever onwards is emblematic of the fight with mental health issues that many people have.

The team are all intent on making it to the finish line in good health and cheer and are asking for public support along the way.

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One ‘Yomper’, James Mazzoni-Dalton, said: “We are tired, fatigued, sleep deprived, carrying injuries. The team have given up their annual leave and some are on unpaid leave. One of our guys has just survived brain cancer and is Yomping around the country.”

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This story was written by Gee Harland. She joined the team in 2022 as a senior multimedia reporter.

Gee covers Wallingford, Wantage and Didcot.

Get in touch with her by emailing: Gee.harland@newsquest.co.uk

Follow her on Twitter @Geeharland

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