Remembrance Expedition
14 September 2010 - 18 September 2010
Suzanne Dando, the Olympic
gymnast and television broadcaster, is leading a team of
high achieving women in their chosen fields to emulate Nancy
Wake's escape route from the Gestapo over the Pyrenees during
WWII, to remember men and women in conflict and to raise funds for
The Royal British Legion.
They will trek over the high peaks from France to Spain for 4 days following Le Chemin De La Libertie, (The Freedom Trail) one of the hardest wartime escape routes across the central Pyrenees into Northern Spain. During the Second World War, between the years of 1940-44, more than 33,000 civilians and 6,000 Allied Service men were forced to tackle the peaks of the Pyrenees in an effort to escape from Nazi-occupied Europe and regain their liberty via neutral Spain. At the wonderful age of 98 she is a remarkable woman who led an inspiring life. As an SOE agent and resistence fighter Nancy helped thousands of Service men escape across the Pyrenees to freedom.
Starting from Saint-Girons with 2 guides, it must be emphasised that this is NOT an easy trek but is an extremely hard and difficult traverse of a high mountain range. The heights to be climbed are up to 2600 metres (8580 feet) not once but twice in a single day (day three). There are snowfields to be crossed and some enormous granite boulders to be negotiated. It is a very hard upwards slog and the weather can change very quickly in this part of the French Pyrenees. A morning of glorious sunshine and stunning views can change virtually in half an hour into an afternoon of storms, thick mist and nil visibility. Over the 4 days they will cover a total distance of 80 kilometres (50 miles).
The team consists of:
Moira Cameron: 22 years Army. First female
Beefeater at the Tower of London.
Sally Kettle: Double rowed the Atlantic. Author
& motivational speaker.
Jo Salter: First ever RAF Female fighter Pilot.
Author & Inspirational speaker.
Lt Cdr Penny Clark: Royal Navy. Olympic
yachtswoman. 10th Beijing Olympics.
Suzanne Dando: Broadcaster. Former British
Gymnastics Champion. Captain of Moscow Olympics Gymnastics
team.
Kate Nesbitt MC: Royal Navy medic. Only second
female of the Armed services to be awarded the Military
cross.
Gp Capt Deb Barber: First woman to reach
Group Captain rank in the Air Traffic Branch and now leads
it.
WO Michaela Barwick: Warrant Officer One,
Army Physical Training Corp, currently serving at Headley
Court.
Suzanne was inspired to do the trek after reading a book about Nancy Wake, the most highly decorated woman from WWII.
Many owe their lives to Nancy. Known as the 'White Mouse' and the Gestapo's most wanted, in 1943 she too had to escape the Nazis. On her 6th attempt, she crossed the Pyrenees and into the safety of Spain.
Nancy once said: "Freedom is the only thing worth living for, while I was doing that work I used to think it didn't matter if I died, because without freedom there was no point in living."
The team is proud to have Dame Vera Lynn DBE as their
patron.
"How wonderful that you are doing this expedition in aid of the
Royal British Legion. I would like to wish everyone a very
successful and safe journey. The Legion has always been there
to help the Veterans, serving personnel and their families, and I
hope it will continue to do so for however long it is needed."
If you would like to donate to Suzanne's fund, please go to www.bmycharity.com/remembranceexpedition
