Two Rutlanders to walk Hadrian's Wall dressed as Roman Centurions in aid of the MS Society, The Lodge Trust and Greetham Church Roof fund
Visitors to two of the UK’s most popular tourist attractions might be forgiven for looking twice if they come across Rutlanders Stef Douglas and Steve Bertuzzi.
The friends who both live in Greetham, plan to walk the full length of Hadrian’s Wall dressed in authentic Roman Centurion costume and have been carrying out training walks around Rutland Water.
Stef, group commander for Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Steve, chief executive of a medical device business, are no strangers to either fundraising or physical challenges.
“We are both veterans of several marathons and enjoy running and cycling,” said Stef.
“We also both enjoy volunteering and getting involved in all sorts of community events in Greetham and in the wider community.”
It was a combination of a business trip to Italy and his fascination with history that led to Steve coming up with idea of a charity walk with a difference: “I am originally from the
North East and was brought up not far from Hadrian’s Wall so Roman history has always fascinated me,” he said.
“The wall was a defensive fortification built by the Roman emperor Hadrian in AD 122.
"It ran from the banks of the River Tyne near the North Sea to the Solway Firth and was the northern limit of the Roman Empire.”
Stef and Steve are walking to raise money for three charities; The Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Lodge Trust in Market Overton and the Greetham Church Roof Fund.
MS is a disease that has affected both of them indirectly with Steve’s nephew Guy Forteith, 26, having been diagnosed with the condition aged just 16.
Money raised will be divided between MS charities including Guy’s therapy centre in Oban; The Lodge Trust in Rutland which provides support for adults with learning difficulties and the Greetham Church Roof Fund.
Keen to make the most of their adventure, Stef and Steve have set themselves a target to raise £2,000 and devised a motto which represents their aims – ‘Inspire, Educate, Motivate’.
To this end the pair also plan to visit primary schools, working with local historians to help children better understand the importance of the Romans in local, national and international history.
As well as training by walking in the full centurion kit, the pair has been increasing their upper body weight training regimes to prepare them for the challenge.
Steve said “The walk will be 84 miles over five days and the armour plate weighs around 20kg.
"We’ll be wearing helmets, shoulder and breast plates and leather tunics.
"Our swords and shields are being especially made by Stef’s father in law, Jim Gill although the law prevents us from carrying steel
swords – ours are made of wood.
"As well as the weight, the armour is not the most comfortable thing to wear so we are expecting to find it tough but that’s all part of the
challenge.
“Parts of the walk are quite heavy going so if it’s pouring with rain that won’t help.”
The walk begins at Solway on May 6 and Stef and Steve aim to cover around 17 miles per day, finishing at Segedunum Fort in Newcastle on Tyne on May 10 where they are hoping some Rutland supporters might join them over the last few miles.
“We’ve been called crazy but if we can inspire or motivate others to get involved in their own community or do some fundraising then that will be a massive bonus for us,” added Steve.
Stef and Steve thank Rutland Cycling, Steve Chawner, and the Wheatsheaf in Greetham for their sponsorship.
Click here to sponsor them on Just Giving and updates will be regularly posted on Facebook during the walk.
