It seems like only yesterday that I was trekking over the barren interior of Iceland, yet here we now are with Christmas very much upon us. It’s been an amazing year and this expedition was beyond doubt the most amazing trip that I have ever undertaken. Perhaps most surprising for me was the aspect of solitude. Most of us have never been away from the company of other people for any extended length of time. Solitude is something that you simply cannot prepare for and I have nothing but absolute admiration for people who take on solo expeditions.
I would like to personally thank those of you who very generously donated to the Afghanistan Trust. In the last few weeks I went to a Parachute Regiment officer’s dinner. I was drawn up short by some aspects of the evening, not least the minute’s silence for the men of the regiment who have been killed in the last few months. It was very humbling to talk with leadership figures who have just returned from a largely unpopular but nevertheless very real war in Afghanistan. I saw and heard hard evidence of the stress they have experienced. It brought home the reality of what is happening out there.
In a world where most of us rely on occasional media reports for our information, we are in many ways divorced from the hard truth of what is happening. I can assure you that your generosity means a great deal. It demonstrates that people really do care.
I would like to personally thank those of you who very generously donated to the Afghanistan Trust. In the last few weeks I went to a Parachute Regiment officer’s dinner. I was drawn up short by some aspects of the evening, not least the minute’s silence for the men of the regiment who have been killed in the last few months. It was very humbling to talk with leadership figures who have just returned from a largely unpopular but nevertheless very real war in Afghanistan. I saw and heard hard evidence of the stress they have experienced. It brought home the reality of what is happening out there.
In a world where most of us rely on occasional media reports for our information, we are in many ways divorced from the hard truth of what is happening. I can assure you that your generosity means a great deal. It demonstrates that people really do care.
1 comment:
I'd love to hear more about your Iceland experience - do you have a site with information?
I'm just home from an unsupported crossing and keen to hear from others who have done similar...
Alastair Humphreys
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