A 9-year-old schoolboy is to repeat the success of a walk he undertook last year to raise money for veterans, with a walk around Rutland Water.

Harry Cowley raised almost £1000 for the charity Walking With The Wounded's Walking Home For Christmas annual fundraising challenge last year.

As Nub News reported, this was far in excess of the £100 the Lincolnshire lad had expected.

Harry, then aged 8, accompanied by mum Jennifer and granddad Geoff, walked from his home in Rippingale, near Bourne, to Bourne Abbey Church of England School, a distance of six miles.

This year, now aged 9, and in the school's Year 5, Harry plans to walk 16 miles around Rutland Water, but alas Covid-19 restrictions means he will not be accompanied by veterans for the last leg this year.

The walk, expected to take 8 hours, will take place on Saturday December 19, starting at 8am.

Jennifer picked the charity which supports those who served by tackling unemployment, mental health issues and homelessness, because she has always been keen on helping veterans get back to a normal life.

She told Nub News: "Harry wanted to raise money to do something kind last year for someone else because he knows how fortunate he is just having a roof over his head and a loving family so he wanted to give something back so when I told him about this charity he was very keen.

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"The veterans that escorted him to school on the last leg last year we met up with them at their breakfast club in Bourne and welcomed us with open arms and Harry has since promised them we will be doing this again to help veterans in need."

Jennifer continued: "I just think it's really important to teach children at a young age that Christmas isn't just about receiving. It's more about giving and to just have a roof over your head means you are more fortunate than quite a lot of people in this world. If you can just take a little bit of time out of your day, you can make a massive difference to someone and potentially change their life and that's more important than any gift that you can receive."

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