Army veteran pensioner walking 300 miles to raise money for Ukrainian war victims

Army veteran Eddie Capone is walking 300 miles this month to help raise cash for Ukrainian war victims.

It is an undertaking even more praiseworthy considering he faced a traumatic personal battle against Covid not so long ago.

The 75-year-old, of Hunsdon Road, New Cross, felt inspired to try and do his bit after seeing the terrible images of suffering we have all been receiving on news feeds for the past month.

In particular he wants to help black and Caribbean orphans he thinks have even less chance of escaping the ravages of war than others.

“I have the feeling we are seeing many abandoned children who nobody wants and who have nowhere to go,” Eddie said.

“There are a handful of Good Samaritans who have been able to take them in, but many of these children who were born there have no family to turn to and it’s brought me to tears.”

The plan in the first instance is for any cash he can raise through sponsorship to be used for helping to evacuate those youngsters affected and to help find them homes through NGO’s operating in Poland.

Eddie describes himself as a music producer veteran as well as ex-army, but he is also very much a veteran fundraiser now as well.

Last year, he tackled another 300-mile trek through South London to raise money for a memorial garden, and a statue intended for the New Cross fire victims of 40 years ago.

When he set off last year on that 30-day commitment to walk 10 miles a day, he had only just come off an oxygen tank following a severe reaction to contracting Covid.

He spent a week in hospital and needed a lengthy rehabilitation period before he felt out of the woods.

“All I thought at the time was that I was on a one-way ticket. Coming out of that was an absolute blessing. The whole episode was a nightmare. I was struggling to breathe.

“From being an able-bodied person to not being able to walk was tough to take and it was a great challenge to go on the walk this year. I feel stronger now and I enjoy what I do.”

You may see him in the weeks ahead as he sets off from New Cross Gate at noon on one of two regular loops.

One is up to the Thames and along the towpaths at Greenwich, the other takes him to the more countryfied scenery of Ladywell Fields and Sydenham.

“I prefer a lot of nature. I like the feeling that you are in the country,” he said “The atmosphere is very calming and very enjoyable.

Eddie has financial no target in mind for his latest venture, but if you can help with sponsorship, please log on to www.3gtreatment.com/events