By Leicester Mercury | Posted 17 December, 2017
A Leicestershire soldier completed a 100-mile charity walk around the county despite twisting a knee on an icy path in temperatures of -7C.
Captain Karl Stone, 49, of Thorpe Astley, Braunstone Town, completed the Leicestershire Round - a footpath circling the county - on Thursday, four days after setting off from Bradgate Park.
The full time reservist with the Royal Yeomanry, based in Nottinghamshire, was raising money for LOROS and Royal Yeomanry Sergeant Ash Brice’s six-year-old son, Dan, who is undergoing chemotherapy for eye cancer.
Karl, who set off on Monday, the day after the worst snowfall the county had seen in years, chose LOROS after seeing an aunt and father-in-law and a fellow Yeoman die from cancer.
The father-of-two said: “My auntie had support from LOROS. I do something for charity every year. So these are my reasons for smashing my old knackered body around a 100 mile route.” Last year, Karl and three former soldiers spent the week up to Armistice Day sleeping rough in Leicester city centre to raise cash for a charity that helps homeless ex-servicemen, raising £2,000.
He has also taken part in DIY SOS-style challenges and half marathons for charity.
The veteran of tours in Iraq, the Gulf, Northern Ireland and Bosnia, added: “I picked the worst possible week for doing it, it was horrible. On day two I slipped on ice and twisted my knee 18 miles out at Dunton Bassett.
“It meant I had to double my efforts on Wednesday and Thursday. I didn’t finish in Bradgate Park until 5.30pm on Thursday, having set off at 7am, I had to wear a head torch for the last two hours, but at least I completed the walk.
“I’m fit, being a squaddie, but some of the days were very cold, it was -7C one day, you couldn’t stop for more than five minutes, it was that cold, but it was warm enough when you were moving.”
Karl, who has family, including his mum, brother and sister, living in Braunstone, added: “It was absolutely gorgeous, though, the Leicestershire countryside is amazing, I’d forgotten how beautiful it is, undulating, but the terrain isn’t too harsh. I met some nice people along the way including a 2 Para veteran who gave me a cup of tea.
“I know we’re all hit with money requests for charity, but please give something for this one, because 38.5 per cent of us will be diagnosed with some form of cancer.”
To donate, visit his Justgiving page.
