Chairman of the Board of WWTW Trustees to follow in Lawrence of Arabia’s footsteps

Dick Turpin will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey through the breathtaking yet unforgiving landscapes of Wadi Rum, Jordan, alongside a team of seven fellow adventurers, starting on 22nd February. This ambitious trek will fulfil a lifelong dream and raise crucial funds for Walking With The Wounded.

Dick, who served with the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and 7th Gurkha Rifles before transitioning to a career in the financial sector, has long dreamed of visiting Wadi Rum since first seeing the iconic film Lawrence of Arabia in 1962.

Speaking of his motivation to take on this challenge, Dick said: "The wadi was one of the key battlegrounds of the Arab Revolt in 1917, where combined Bedouin tribes, led by T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), fought against Ottoman occupation. As I approach my 70th year, I’ve decided it's now or never!"

Joined by a team of adventurers—including two fellow ex-soldiers and two intrepid women—Dick will trek between 20 and 25 km a day for five days, camping each night in the vast desert.

About WWTW, Dick said: "Having had the privilege of being involved with Walking With The Wounded since its inception 15 years ago, I hope our efforts inspire others to support this fantastic charity. It provides life-changing assistance to injured service personnel, helping them rebuild their futures."

Wadi Rum is a vast river valley carved into the sandstone and granite rock of southern Jordan, near the Saudi Arabian border. It was famously documented by T.E. Lawrence, who passed through the region multiple times during the Arab Revolt of 1917–18. Aside from inspiring Dick’s journey with Lawrence of Arabia, Wadi Rum has served as a location for several major movies, including several in the Star Wars series and the recent Dune epics.