Somerset veteran left with knee injury after charity walk

Jonathan Farrelly (l) and Lee Jennings (r) are raising money for an Armed Forces veterans' World Cup

An ex-serviceman has been left with knee damage after walking 150 miles (241km) for charity.

Jonathan Farrelly and his friend Lee Jennings set off on their walk from Weston-super-Mare to London on 24 March.

Mr Farrelly, suffered ligament damage to his knee during the trek while Mr Jennings had three stress fractures.

They were raising money for the Armed Forces football World Cup.

The pair have so far raised more than £2,000 towards their cause of staging a football match for veterans around the world.

The pair set off from The Grand Pier and completed the hike in six days.

They slept rough along the way as they wanted to also highlight the plight of those who find themselves homeless after leaving the services.

Mr Farrelly, from Weston-super-Mare, said: "Lee sustained three stress fractures; two in his foot and one in his femur on day two. I pulled the ligaments in my knee on day three.

"It was very challenging on the body and mind but the support we received was amazing and really gave us that extra push."

Mr Farrelly, who served in Afghanistan, said he had previously experienced homelessness "through [his] own choice", with the most recent time in 2023.

Lee Jennings (left) with Jonathan Farrelly (right) set off from Weston-super-Mare on Sunday morning

Along with 30 other ex-servicemen and women, Mr Farrelly planned to put on the "biggest sporting event ever" for the veteran community.

On 4 May 2025, the group will play football at Woking Football Club's ground, in aid of their "brothers and sisters" who need support.

Revenue from the match will be donated to causes that help veterans facing homelessness, said Mr Farrelly.

In order to stage the match, he hoped to raise £500,000 to pay for the travel, accommodation and food of all participants through various fundraising challenges. The walk is the first fundraiser.

Mr Farrelly said that one moment that stood out was encountering all types of wildlife.

"I woke up to Lee screaming at two in the morning due to a mouse being on his sleeping bag," he said.

The men said their injuries had not deterred them and later this year they were planning a longer march.

They plan to cover 250 miles (402km)over nine days heading from Cornwall to London.