A group of formerly homeless ex-Servicemen from London enjoyed the champagne lifestyle in France for a day as part of a fundraising event that earned homelessness charity Veterans Aid £60,000.

The money was raised by sponsored walkers from the The Worshipful Company of Vintners who faced steep slopes, sunshine and showers during their 25k trek through the vineyards of Epernay.

The group included walkers of all ages, from children to septuagenarians, who tackled terrain that occasionally called for serious stamina.

They were accompanied by Dr Hugh Milroy, Col Geoffrey Cardozo and four ex-soldiers from Veterans Aid. All money raised went either to VA or to the Vintners’ Company Charitable Foundation.

The 83 walkers - liverymen, families and friends - who had to attract personal sponsorship of at least £500 in order to take part - were refreshed during their hike by the hospitality of champagne houses Joseph-Perrier, Pol Roger, Gaston Chiquet, Bollinger and Gosset.

Vintners’ spokesman and walker Richard Wilson said “VA is unlike any charity we have known. It provides desperate people with what they need, when they need it, whether that need is for clothing, food, comradeship or accommodation. Its immediacy is what makes it stand out – and after seeing what it has achieved first hand, we had no hesitation in making it a beneficiary of our charity fundraising walk this year.”

The four ex-soldiers (Royal Logistics Corps, Parachute Regiment, Royal Highland Fusiliers and Royal Green Jackets) who took part added a poignant and personal dimension to the event by sharing their experiences with hosts and fellow walkers. All had experienced or faced homelessness and, with the help of Veterans Aid, got their lives back on track.

Dr Milroy, a former RAF officer, whose combination of academic and practical experience has shaped the charity’s philosophy, said after the walk “We were honoured and delighted to be recipients of the Vintners’ generosity – and utterly overwhelmed by the hospitality of our various hosts in France. And for the Veterans who took part it was an affirmation of how much distance they had put between the problems that brought them to VA and their lives today.”

“Ironically alcohol is often the ‘comfort’ of choice for the street homeless but the Vintners’ commitment to responsible drinking and community support has led to it making a significant and positive contribution to our work. Every penny received will go directly to those in need.”

Col Cardozo added “We currently have 56 ex-servicemen in our hostel. They range in age from 21 to 78. The common denominator is that they are homeless, vulnerable and in our care with a view to regaining, usually within 9 months, their poise and self-confidence before moving on to their own separate and private rented accommodation. “

All participants funded their own travel and accommodation costs. Hospitality stops en route also had an educational element as each participating champagne house proudly told the fund-raisers about its history and heritage.

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