- British outdoor clothing brand Craghoppers, global energy drink brand Monster Energy, satellite technology pioneers, Avanti Communications, the Invictus Games Foundation and wealth & asset manager Shard Capital have also partnered with the charity to sponsor the expedition
- The Duke of Sussex will support the challenge as the official Expedition Patron
- A team of ex-military personnel will attempt to walk across Oman at an approximate total distance of 400km over the course of 21 days
- The aim is to demonstrate the courage and determination of those overcoming injury
Military charity Walking With The Wounded (WWTW) is pleased to announce INEOS Automotive as the lead partner for its ambitious trek across The Arabian Desert. The expedition will be called the Grenadier Walk of Oman, and will consist of a 6-man team of ex-service personnel, trekking 400km over the course of 21 days.
The partnership between INEOS Automotive and WWTW was developed after the charity’s CEO Ed Parker learnt of the company’s plans to build a 4X4 to overcome any terrain. Development continues on the Grenadier, INEOS Automotive’s first production vehicle, built to handle the world’s harshest environments.
In addition to INEOS Automotive, British Outdoor Clothing Brand Craghoppers, Global Energy Drink Brand Monster Energy, Satellite Communications Specialists Avanti Communications, leading wealth and asset manager Shard Capital and the Invictus Games Foundation have also partnered with the charity to sponsor the expedition.
WWTW’s CEO Ed Parker added,
“Without the generous support of our partners, the Grenadier Walk of Oman wouldn’t be achievable. The support these organisations provide WWTW has been pivotal to the progression of the expedition and the generous sponsorship cements these long-standing relationships even further. We look forward to building an exciting and enduring legacy with INEOS Automotive, Craghoppers, Avanti Communications, Monster Energy, Shard Capital and the Invictus Games Foundation.”
Dirk Heilmann, CEO INEOS Automotive, added
“The Walk of Oman is an incredible challenge. It will take great resilience to overcome such a gruelling task – the kind of spirit that inspires us here at INEOS Automotive whilst developing our Grenadier 4×4. To capture just a fraction of the dedication and sense of purpose shown by the veterans in our vehicle would certainly make us very happy. We are proud to support the Walking With The Wounded team every step of the way.”
Craghoppers Brand Director, James McNamara, added
“We are delighted to be supporting Walking With The Wounded and the amazing team embarking on this epic walk. We will be providing them with all the technical clothing and accessories they will need. They will be enduring extreme temperatures and walking many kilometres every day – no mean feat. They should feel confident that their kit will keep them cool, protect them from the sun’s harmful rays and look smart, while lasting beyond the distance.”
Guy Carling, President EMEA Monster Energy continued
“We are immensely proud and excited to be partnering with Walking With The Wounded, not only for their expedition but the fundraising and support they generate for those injured in service. The Grenadier Walk of Oman looks set to provide another fantastic platform that will demonstrate the courage and capabilities of service personnel, from which we can all take great inspiration. We wish everyone associated with the expedition the very best with their preparations and of course the walk itself.”
Avanti Communications CEO, Kyle Whitehill added
“We’re very happy to be providing satellite communications coverage to the formidable expedition team and their supporters in Oman, which will enable them to remain connected and stay safe, even at the most remote points of their journey. As a company that works closely with governments and peacekeeping forces around the world, we are keen to show our thanks and respect for those who put themselves on the front line to protect others. Walking with the Wounded is a fantastic initiative to highlight the resilience and strength of the men and women who have been wounded at war,”
Dominic Reid OBE, CEO of the Invictus Games Foundation, commented,
‘‘The Invictus Games Foundation is proud to lend its support to Walking With The Wounded and the Grenadier Walk of Oman. This walk not only shares a patron with the foundation, it shares its goals in supporting those injured in service. We look forward to helping establish further international endeavours in the future.”
Toby Raincock, Shard Capital CEO, finished with
“Having supported Walking With The Wounded for many years, Shard Capital is proud to sponsor the Grenadier Walk of Oman trek and in doing so, solidify its relationship with this fantastic foundation. Our team includes a number of people who previously served in the military and together, we salute the bravery of those injured in service who will be participating. We look forward to celebrating their success on completion of this extreme trek.”
Starting on November 20 2020 and ending on December 11 2020, the Duke of Sussex will support the challenge as the official Expedition Patron along with generous support from the Royal Office of HM Sultan Haitham bin Tariq’ and in partnership with the Omani Armed Forces.
The ambitious trek pays homage to the legendary travels Wilfred Thesiger took across the Arabian Peninsula in the 1940s and will also take the team across part of the Empty Quarter— the world’s largest sand desert, before bringing the arduous trek to a close on Oman’s Armed Forces Day.
The final team, all of whom have physical or cognitive injuries, will endure hunger, thirst and extreme temperatures to highlight the extraordinary courage of the men and women who have been wounded while serving their countries and to draw attention to the support needed in their transition to civilian life.
Due to the hostile conditions and the nature of the injuries involved, the expedition teams will be followed by a support team, who will be on hand in case of emergencies. Trekking around 20km to 22km per day, the team will endure temperatures as high as 95°F as they pull their custom-built cart, weighing in excess of 300kg, across the unforgiving Omani desert.
Before the final team is revealed, they will undergo a rigorous selection process in July to test both their physical and mental strength before preparing for this extraordinary challenge in the Middle East. Details of the selection process and expedition team will be revealed soon.
