Edition 33
This week, our teams have been out and about developing more special relationships, we bring you an update on a ‘very cool’ fundraiser – and how, with your help, one member of the deserving Corps Family is back walking with confidence.
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Knowledge-sharing pays off

Our Employment and Education (E&E) team attended an Armed Forces Charities Networking (AFCN) event at the Gordon Messenger Centre, CTCRM in Lympstone last week..
Its purpose is to nurture strong relationships between local veteran charities, businesses that are veteran-focused, and veterans themselves who are the ultimate end users.
The face-to-face sessions prove extremely successful and help promote and establish a joint understanding of the opportunities that are not only possible, but also available.
E&E Manager, Zoe Darnbrough, says: “Developing and facilitating this event sends out a strong message about the RMA’s ‘resilience’-based philosophy and our commitment to ongoing and improved collaboration in support of our veterans.”
31/31 – all done – well, almost!

At 13h00 yesterday, under sunny blue skies at Branksome Beach in Poole on England’s south coast, the awesome Tim Crossin, aka the ‘Cold Dip Commando’ – resplendent in dinner jacket and bow-tie – approached the beach (per terram) in true Commando-style (per mare) to complete his awesome month-long challenge and take the 31st of his 31 cold water dip in the chilly sea.
He was welcomed joyfully by dozens of fellow Bootnecks, local cold water swimmers and some of the more hardy RMA – The Royal Marines Charity team members.
But despite having now successfully completed all 31 cold water dips in 31 different locations around the UK during January (just weeks after being diagnosed with a fourth diagnosis of cancer); and having smashed his initial £10,000 fundraising target (now topping £24,000 and still climbing), Tim is not yet finished. He’s now planning to wrap-up it all up with a Charity Dinner later this month during which he will auction the Limited Edition Elliott Brown RM Commando watch he has worn throughout.
He’s endured some extreme weather and faced many unforeseen situations in driving himself around his 2,800-mile journey.
Tim is fundraising for three charities, including RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. We can’t begin to thank him enough for including us as one of the beneficiaries. We are humbled by his selfless determination to complete all 31 cold dips in the face of such adversity.
But it’s not just been about the money – during his challenge, he has brought together and reunited many members of the Corps Family across the UK, proved an inspiration to many people also living with cancer, and will now also be kept busy with those around the British Isles who have said they now want to set up their own ‘Cold Dip Commando’ swimming clubs in his honour – what a remarkable triumph and personal legacy.
Running wild!

102.61 miles, with an average elevation of 1,3156 ft in 25h:37m:35s! – our huge thanks to Steve Fuller for his fabulous support to raise funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity . This past weekend, he completed the gruelling ‘Arc of Attrition’, an extreme point-to-point race around the entire south west ‘foot’ of Cornwall along the dramatic coast path.
After joining the Corps in 1984, he passed out with the Commando Medal and went on to serve with 40 & 45, followed by a 26-year career with the fire service, from which he’s now retired.
He’s raised over £1,300 to date and is pushing to hit his £2,000 target.
And super supporter and awesome athlete Heather Crawford has started her 2023 challenge with the determination to raise £12,000 for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. She’s planning to complete 12 Ultra runs in 12 months, each of the 12 having some form of connection to the Royal Marines.
The first, this past weekend, featured two circuits in Dartmoor, near training areas used for RM exercises and training, where she covered 39.3 miles in 8h:20m. She was supported by two RM veterans Baz Gray, who ran with her, and Lee Spencer who proved outstanding as pit stop crew!
Heather says: “I am ordinary person, I don’t have a ‘story’…I simply believe with a deep passion in everything the RMA-The Royal Marines Charity do.
The 12 core values of the Royal Marines are those I try to live my life by. Ultra-running is not just about physical capability but mostly about mental battles, determination, humility, adaptability, respect and overcoming. The runs will not be fast, may involve lots of walking, but I am bloody- minded enough to finish!”
Walking with confidence

Andy Merry passed out as a Royal Marine in 1985 and, since 2013, has worked as a Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London.
In 2016, Andy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. A year later, he climbed Mont Blanc, raising funds for the MS Trust and RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Watch this short film from 2021 to see how RMA – The Royal Marines Charity was able to support Andy, with a grant for a ground-breaking Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) device.
Join Team RMA in Birmingham

Join team RMA and raise vital funds for the Royal Marines Family in the Great Birmingham Run 2023 on 7th May.
Starting at 08:00 in the heart of the city, runners can soak up the atmosphere and music all the way to the finish. Experience an exciting 10km or half marathon course incorporating the historic heart of Birmingham, its latest developments and world-famous heritage sites.