Veterans and volunteers from a recovery centre joined forces for a festive walk around a nature reserve to raise money for heroic servicemen and women injured in conflicts.

Santa and Boris the Badger also joined in the two-hour stroll around Fingringhoe Wick, in Essex, on Saturday, December 1 to raise money for Help for Heroes and Walking With The Wounded, as well as Colchester MP Will Quince.

Staff, veterans and volunteers from the Help for Heroes Recovery Centre in Colchester organised the Walking Home for Chirstmas event as part of a campaign calling on communities to put their best foot forward to raise much-needed cash to help veterans and their families - simply by going for a walk.

Ann Scott, at Help for Heroes, said: “This major fundraising drive will help support wounded, injured and sick veterans who are at risk; some battling unemployment, isolation and struggling with their mental health.

“At Christmas these challenges can often be compounded. We wanted to get involved to raise much needed funds but more importantly bring veterans and their families together at a fun event.”

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")

The walk also brought the wider community together, with 22-year-old Tyler St-George walking 20 miles from his home in Clacton to get to the fundraising event.

Twelve-year-old Mark Cole, from Witham, begged his mum Tracy to take him and has so far raised an impressive £200.

Mr Quince said: “Not only is Help for Heroes a fantastic charity that works across the UK but we’re so lucky to have a Recovery Centre in Colchester.

“It was a great opportunity to talk with staff and veterans from Chavasse VC House but also to thank the volunteers for the amazing fundraising that they do.”

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")

To sponsor those who took part, visit http://www.walkinghomeforchristmas.com/teams/colchester-recovery-centre

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")

%image(15301593, type="article-full", alt="The Colchester Help for Heroes Recovery Centre's "Walking Home for Christmas" event around Fingringhoe Wick. Picture: Help For Heroes")