The 97th Four Days Marches, from 16th to 19th July, covers a total of 100 miles and for the third year running the JTYAF will be providing funding for the Dorset and Wilts Wing Team of 12 cadets to take part in this event. The Nijmegen Marches challenge was started in 1906 by the Dutch Militaryto keep their personnel fit after the introduction of motor transport. Now it has developed into a mainly civilian festival of walking. If the team is successful they will be awarded the coveted Royal Nijmegen medal on behalf of Queen Beatrix of Holland.

The cadets have been training hard since January, completing the two day Qualifying March at Cosford and the two day 50 mile march at Lyneham. The Nijmegen Marches will provide the cadets with a unique experience to develop as individuals and as part of a team, working together with cadets from many different squadrons to achieve their goal and meeting people from all over the world.

The cadets will be following in John's footsteps as he completed the Nijmegen 4 Day Marches in 2000 and 2001 and he would be delighted that the JTYAF is supporting this challenge.

During the four days of marching, the cadets, will wake at 3am, will walk for more than 32 hours and take around 210,000 steps!

The cadets taking part this year:-