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Matthew Bickham

The Cateran Yomp 2025

Donate to Matthew and help them hit their goal of £2400!

Army Benevolent Fund Cateran Yomp 2025

On the 7 - 8 June 2025, I am taking on the Cateran Yomp for a second time. A 54-mile hike in 24 hours across rural Perthshire, Scotland.

It’s going to be tough but it will raise vital funds for the Army Benevolent Fund, providing a lifetime of support to soldiers, veterans and their immediate families.

My grandfather served in the parachute regiment in WW2 and was one of the first onto the bridge at Arnhem (as featured in the film ‘A Bridge Too Far’). He was captured though and became a prisoner of war. Thankfully he returned home after the war safe and sound. For me he was a hero, trying to bring much needed peace to Europe (as were his fellow soldiers) and I think we all owe him and so many others who have served in the Army so much. This charity for me is very important and one I support whole-heartedly, not least because they helped my Grandad get back on his feet after the war had ended.

Thank you for all your support for this amazing charity.

Please Help Me
Reach My Goal

Raised

£2,429 + £308.63 GiftAid

My Goal

£2,400

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My Updates

1 WEEK TO GO!

Wow, here we are and only a matter of a few days to go until the biggest Yomp for me and many others I am sure this year. A wonderful weekend of calmer walks and readiness with the family and friends. I am pretty sure our hound will be glad when the Yomp is done and normal walking will resume! Here we go then!

2 WEEKS TO GO!

It's almost time for the Yomp and this past weekend I limited my walk to 15 miles around the outskirts of Duxford Airfield and then a tour of the airfield itself. I visited the parachute regiment exhibition and learned more details about how my Grandad attempted to hold a position on the Bridge at Arnhem during WW2 and also about how to train as a parachutist. That really takes some special skills!  

3 WEEKS TO GO!

A great walk from Saffron Walden to Audley End House and then around the town and back to the railway station. Had some nice family company and covered 10 miles, all good preparation and loved the company!

4 WEEKS To GO!

A big test this weekend, new walking boots, knee upgrade (well move focused exercise for them) and a 40 mile walk from Folkstone to Broadstairs in Kent. Stunning weather, wall to wall sunshine and helping to cope with some warm climates especially if the Yomp is a little warmer this year. 

5 Weeks to Go!

A great 13 mile walk on Bank Holiday Monday in wet and windy conditions but all great practice. The walk took me around the eastern side of Stansted and back home to Thorley via the northern villages. Lovely countryside but leaky walking boots. New ones now being worn in! 

6 Weeks to Go!

The weather continues to provide excellent hiking conditions and last night I yomped across to a Hertfordshire village called Perry Green, known for the Henry Moore foundation. A very warm walk to start but cooled off nicely and an opportunity to walk in some dusky conditions. Great to meet my camera club friends for a walk around the bluebell woods. 9 miles covered. 

7 Weeks to Go

Time is marching on and a super walk over the long weekend around Hatfield Forest and then home. The family joined me at the start and then I hiked across fields, through villages and woodland. All good practice in my preparation. Thank you to everyone who have supported me, it means so much. 

8 WEEKS TO GO!

Enjoyed a beautiful long hike along the River Stort navigation between Bishop's Stortford and Harlow. 13 mile walk in preparation and continuing to increase the miles each weekend. So lucky with the weather (so far). 

Upping the Miles!

Another perfect day of hiking not far from home and starting with the family who then left me to it! The medieval village of Furneaux Pelham was our starting point and then followed by a 10 mile return walk back to home. Great conditions, company and some nice rolling hills to get the legs working. 

The Training has Started!

Well, the training never really stopped but today was the start of the more continuous walks building up to the big event in June. Starting from home, our walk was to the west of Bishop's Stortford, towards Bury Green and then onto Green Tye and back. 7.37 miles with my son James and golden retriever (Bramble). Stunning weather, very dry paths and blister free! 

Thank you to my Sponsors

£200

Fred Bickham

£106

Howard

A great effort and cause. Best of luck

£71

Bishop's Stortford Camera Club

£53.32

Dominic Lynn

Enjoy the pain!! Watch out for the blisters.

£53.32

Ian Randall

Good luck Matthew, should be easier the second time round!

£53.32

Shamus Kahl

Good luck on your hike Matthew.

£53.32

John Carroll

Good luck and I hope the knees survive!

£53.32

Lesley Sprung

Great work Matthew, looking forward to the challenge again!!

£53.32

Sue Carroll

54 miles! Good luck. X

£53.32

Mike Carroll

Good luck Matthew

£42.79

Guy Emerson

Good luck Matthew!

£40

Michelle Bickham

£32.23

Paul Dennis

Good luck Matthew, gret effort for a really worthwhile cause

£32.23

Maggie

Well done Matthew!

£32.23

Kathryn Timlin

thank you Matthew!

£32.23

Geoff Nield

Matthew - a great cause and well done for committing to the event the second year running.

£32.23

The Todds

Good luck Matthew!!

£32.23

Jon Watson

54 miles! What a challenge - best of luck!

£32.23

Ian Clough

Good luck Mathew, hope you manage to enjoy the walk as well as finishing it.

£32.23

Millie Carr

Well done Matthew! All the training will be worth it!

£31.51

Angelika Hüls

Good luck!

£30

Fred Bickham

£30

Sheila Maynard

Best of luck Matthew

£30

Chas & Philippa

Best of luck on your last outing for the event 👌

£29

Matthew Bickham

£27.05

David Brooking

Good Luck and hope the knees hold out 😎🤞

£27.05

David Carroll

£25

Peter Moss

£21.84

Anonymous

£21.84

Bola Sho-silva

Well done Matthew!

£21.84

Bally Toor

£21.84

Rosie

Great cause and quite a challenge!!

£21.84

Finn Campbell

Great stuff Matthew

£21.84

Diane

You deserve to smash this Matthew! Stay safe and have the best time.

£21.84

Frankie Defalco

£21.84

Mark Sangwine

Good Luck Matthew!

£21.84

Trad Hughes

See you on the Yomp!

£21.84

Richard Nickels

Thank you

£21.84

Ian Williams

£21.84

Wendy Kingshott

Good luck Matthew. You can do it!

£21.84

Manjit Sukhram

Thank you Matthew

£21.84

Darren Pardoe

A fantastic cause and wish you all the best Matthew.

£21.84

Graham

£21.84

Adrian Hill

Hi Matthew, Good luck with the Yomp! All the best

£21.84

Anonymous

£21.84

Reid Family

Good luck!

£21.84

Brian Beckman

£21.84

Tom Filmer

Good luck Matthew. See you there.

£21.84

Emma Benato

£21.84

Charles Graydon

£21.84

Shyam Subbaraj

All the best Matt!

£21.60

Robin Lee

Good luck Matt, all the best and enjoy!

£20

Robin Beer

£20

Alan & Clare Hodgson

Good luck. You must be mad doing it again!!

£20

Jane Dobson

Best of luck Matthew

£20

Sohesh Patel

£20

Jaz Singh

Good luck Matthew !

£20

Naoual Bellafqih

£20

Ana Perez

Go Matthew!

£16.56

Olivia Misquitta

Good luck Matthew!

£16.56

Laurence Barber

Best of luck!

£16.56

James Bickham

Good luck on your adventures again, for a great cause!

£16.20

Nathan Rae

£15

Anonymous

Good Luck

£11.33

Dixie, Bscc

Best of luck Matthew, it’s a very worthy cause.

£11.33

Rosie Hurll

Good luck Matthew! Rosie and Alex xx

£11.33

Sisan Kola-lawal

£11.33

Sabine Vetterlein

Thank you for these, Matthew and best of luck in the Cateran Yomp!

£11.33

Hani Risheq

Good luck Matt! :)

£11.33

Luca Angiolini

Keep up the great work Matthew!!

£11.33

Chris Rushworth

£10

Gaayatiri Sanjeev

£10

Mariana Da Costa Duarte

Best of luck on your 54-mile hike in Scotland, You'll smash it!

£10

Roberto Bodegas

£10

Lucy Sproul

Good luck Matthew!

£10

Niamh Lambert

Good luck Matt, such a great cause!

£10

Lydia Blythe

Good luck, Matthew!

£10

Zara Comerford

Good luck! Thank you for the great headshots!

£10

Carol Green

£10

Matthew Donnelly

£10

Joe Flower

Good Luck!!

£10

Victoria Humphreys

Good Luck Matthew!! :)

£10

Oliver Maytum

£10

Thomas Wackett

Thank you Matthew!

£10

Anonymous

£10

Freya Parker

£10

Char Quiambao

£10

Marynol Algua

£10

Nicholson Family

£10

Cliff

£10

Jonny Donald

Best of luck Matthew!

£7.61

Atrin Motamed-chaboki

Thank you so much for the headshots! Wishing you the best of luck.

£6.11

Janelle Azimullah

£6.11

Lewis Bloomer

£6.11

Dylan Jenkins

£6.11

Lucy

£6.11

Izzy Osborne

£6.11

Herbert

£5

Anonymous

£5

Claire Nicoll

Thanks Matthew and good luck!!

£5

Alvaro Perez Bocangra

£5

David Arciga

£5

Samir Parmar (oracle)

Great Work :)

£5

Charlotte Lack

£5

Alex Harvey

£5

Anonymous

Good luck Matthew. Been enjoying your walks...great initiative. Well done.

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