WOUNDED walking war veterans inspired supporters in Chepstow when they took a break from their 1,000 mile charity walk across the UK.

The ambitious Walk of Britain 2015 expedition paused at Chepstow where they were greeted with a reception in Beaufort Square on Saturday, where the team were entertained by Chepstow singing club who sang a number of well known Welsh songs.

The six veterans, four British and two American, are representing Walking with the Wounded which fundraises for the re-education and training of the nation’s injured servicemen and women.

While visiting Monmouth the previous day, each team member, Alec Robotham, Matt Fisher, Scott Ransley, Stewart Hill, Kirstie Ennis and Andrew Bement had discussed how they had been injured in the line of duty, and how the charity helps ex-servicemen.

Matt, who was shot in the foot, chose to have his leg amputated from the knee down to regain functionality after a year of limited movement.

He told people: “It’s very important for us to engage with everyone we see and make them understand what the charity does.

“If a veteran has a job and is standing on his own two feet, he has a better chance of integrating into society.

“It’s also about helping people who are socially injured; people who have come off the rails as a result of their service.

“There is a shocking amount of homeless veterans and we hope that by engaging with them we can steer them in the right direction and help them find a job to put them on the straight and narrow.

“We focus everything towards getting veterans to do thing for themselves and become self-reliant – that’s the ethos of the charity.”

Matt, who walked the New York City Marathon six months after his amputation, belonged to the Army’s 3 Rifles regiment and was “over the moon” to be made part of the Walk of Britain team.

“I feel like I have been handed a new lease of life that will give me the drive to take my civilian life to the next level,” he said.

“This adventure has given me a great sense of pride and belonging and brought back a bit of the excitement I have been missing.”

The mammoth hike, which began in Scotland on 22nd August and is set to finish at Buckingham Palace on 1st November is just one of many fundraising expeditions organised by Walking with the Wounded.

The team had covered around 606 miles in total when they reached Chepstow from Monmouth on Saturday.

Monmouthshire County Council chairman Councillor Brian Strong and the council’s Armed Forces champion Cllr John Prosser greeted the armed forces veterans in Monmouth.

Councillor Strong said: “We were very pleased to welcome the Walking With The Wounded team to Monmouthshire.  Their determination has made an impact on so many across the country and we wish them the very best as they continue their trail. 

“I hope that people will give generously towards their valiant cause.”

Cllr Prosser added: ““It is good to see the community supporting these brave servicemen and woman who have all suffered in the line of duty while defending our nation and way of life. 

“Their individual stories demonstrate the risks our armed forces take and the need for our continued support when they return to civilian life.”

For more information on Walking with the Wounded, visit walkingwiththewounded.org.uk