2493 (Alsager) Sqn Hadrian's wall Exped

Aim

Staff and cadets are taking on Hadrian's Wall together on foot and virtually to raise funds for 2493 (Alsager) Squadron.

2493 (Alsager) Squadron Walking Hadrian's Wall – Supporting Our Cadets

Every mile of Hadrian's Wall this summer carries a story. It starts with a hospital, and a cadet who had to find her way back, supported by a Squadron that refused to let her do it alone.

2493 (Alsager) Squadron RAFAC is more than a youth organisation. It is a community that supports, challenges and looks after its own.

Following a serious accident last year, one of our cadets was taken by helicopter to Alder Hey Children's Hospital. Her recovery did not end when she left the hospital. 

Throughout the months that followed, 2493 (Alsager) Squadron stood by her, offering encouragement, understanding, and a sense of belonging during one of the hardest periods of her life.

That support extended beyond the Squadron into the wider community. Everybody's Gym in Alsager played a vital role in her recovery, with staff and managers showing extraordinary kindness, patience and genuine commitment. As part of her rehabilitation, she undertook swimming-based hydrotherapy and supported training, learning to walk and swim again. The swimming instructors adapted sessions, worked at her pace, and supported her every step of the journey.

Everybody's Gym continues to support Squadron staff, helping them stay fit enough to safely lead and take part in physically demanding activities, including this one.

This summer, we are putting one foot in front of the other just as she did, and just as this community did for her.

The Challenge

From 21st to 28th June, Squadron staff and supporters will walk the full 140km route from South Shields to Bowness-on-Solway, fully self-sufficient and carrying all their own kit. Concurrently, cadets across the Squadron will complete a virtual version of the same challenge over eight weeks, logging miles as part of a structured team exercise  'Operation Wall Guard' designed to build teamwork, resilience and commitment.

'Operation Wall Guard': The Cadet Challenge

Cadets will form patrols (groups) of four to five and work together to "guard" Hadrian's Wall virtually. Each patrol progresses east to west along the Wall, unlocking Roman forts and milecastles as they hit milestones. Patrol Leaders coordinate their teams, collect weekly distances, and keep their patrols motivated.

The challenge rewards consistency and teamwork over raw speed daily mileage is capped to keep things fair, and weekly Roman-themed orders give patrols bonus objectives to complete. Leaderboards track progress, and awards recognise distance, consistency, and teamwork.

It's about effort, honesty, and supporting each other, exactly what being a cadet is all about.

Where Your Money Goes

This page raises funds directly for 2493 (Alsager) Squadron, ensuring we can continue to provide the activities, training and support that make a real difference to young people's lives.

Every penny stays close to home. Here is what your support makes possible:

Squadron Band The Band is one of the Squadron's most visible and valued assets. Donations help us maintain and replace instruments, cover transport to performances and competitions, and meet music licence costs — keeping the Band active, funded and open to every cadet who wants to be part of it.

Expeditions and Adventure Training From Duke of Edinburgh Award expeditions to annual camp and adventure training weekends, we run a programme that takes cadets well beyond the classroom. These experiences build resilience, leadership and confidence, but they carry real costs. Your support helps fund places, transport, equipment and specialist instruction.

Flying and Classification Activities: Air cadets fly. It is one of the things that makes the RAFAC unique. Qualification courses, classification training and flying opportunities all come with associated costs that the Squadron works hard to meet. Donations help ensure these flagship experiences remain accessible.

STEM From rocketry and drone flying to coding and engineering challenges, our STEM programme gives cadets hands-on experience of science and technology in action. Keeping that equipment current, maintained and available takes ongoing investment.

First Aid and Specialist Training First aid qualifications, leadership courses and specialist training give cadets skills they carry for life. Donations help cover course fees and materials so that training quality is never compromised by budget.

Making Sure No One Misses Out. This matters more than anything else on this list. No cadet should miss an expedition, a course or a camp because their family cannot cover the cost. 

Donations to this fund allow us to quietly bridge that gap by covering uniform contributions, activity fees, and camp costs where needed, without any young person ever having to ask twice.

A parallel fundraiser is supporting Alder Hey Children's Hospital. This page exists to ensure that 2493 (Alsager) Squadron can continue to be there for its cadets just as it was there for her, backed by a wider community that stepped up when it mattered most.

By donating, you are investing in a group of young people, an organisation that changes young lives. Every amount, however small, goes directly to supporting young people in our village and community, helping them through the many challenges they face, whether due to an accident, a need to build confidence, or struggles with today's challenges.

Because when it mattered most, this community showed up for one of our own. Help us make sure we can always do the same.

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 30th June 2026 at 12:00pm