Edition 43
This week, there’s been no let-up in the outstanding achievements and fabulous fundraising successes that have continued despite the Bank Holiday weekend. We’re delighted to share so much positive and inspiring news.
Thank you so much for your continued support.
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Health & Wellbeing
In the first three months of the year, our Health and Wellbeing team processed 214 welfare and benevolence grants totalling well over £232k, eight to various partner organisations including to Climb2recovery towards delivering RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s Chamonix 2023 respite ski trip.
There were also 22 grants awarded to serving personnel and 184 grants to the veteran community. These included the funding of a storage heater, a therma massage tool, an orthopaedic mattress for a former RM with multiple health issues, and flight costs for a serving Royal Marine to attend a funeral following a close friend’s suicide and to care for his terminally ill mother.
Outstanding service rewarded
Our RMA Membership team was privileged to be with RMR Tyne in the year of the 75th Anniversary of the Royal Marines Reserve for a presentation of the President’s Commendation.
It is awarded by the Commandant General of the Royal Marines for outstanding service to members of the Corps Family who have gone above and beyond.
The Commendation was presented by Brigadier Andy Muddiman (pictured right) to former WO2 Ray Alexander of RMA Tyne, for outstanding services to the RMR and RMA spreading over 57 years.
Congratulations to Ray, who is a true gentleman and the epitome of a Royal Marine.
River deep…..
Huge congratulations, too, to the Royal Marines’ Devizes to Westminster Canoe Marathon Team for their absolutely incredible achievements at this year’s event – and at the same time raising money for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
We expect more details shortly but for now we know they won the following trophies (pictured left to right) for – Fastest Service Team: Fastest Service Crew: Fastest Navy Crew: and Fastest Veteran Crew.
The Royal Marines have a proud heritage throughout the history of the annual 125-mile Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race, having won it 16 times already.
The gruelling 125-mile ultra-marathon kayak race from Devizes in rural Wiltshire to Westminster Bridge in Central London is held each year over the Easter weekend. As the longest non-stop canoe race in the world, renowned for being one of the world’s toughest endurance events, it’s often referred to as ‘the canoeist’s Everest’.
……mountain high!
Well on track towards his summit attempt of the real Mount Everest in a few weeks’ time (and raising funds for the Charity), the awe-inspiring Craig Hunter is currently heading steadily to Base Camp and, on the way, acclimatising to the heady heights, harsh conditions and oxygen-sapping mountain environment in Nepal.
He left his home in Scotland at the beginning of the month, and over the next two months will be making repeated forays up and down the mountain through the infamous and perilous Khumbu icefall, all the while increasing his body’s resilience to the effects of extreme altitude and debilitating physical exertion.
From Day 7, Craig has reported: “An early departure from Dingboche heading for our destination of Lobuche with a rest stop at Thukla…… definitely feeling the altitude now as we’re now at just over 5,000m. Passed the poignant Climbers’ Memorial before reaching Lobuche. Hopefully get a decent sleep before heading to Everest base camp tomorrow.
Long way to go …..one day at a time – as the Sherpas say ‘bistari bistari’ – slowly slowly!!”
Dedicated fundraisers
Superb supporters Rebecca Rickerby and veteran RM husband Dean from Wolverhampton, have held the fifth and final fundraising evening in support of their two chosen charities, of which RMA – The Royal Marines Charity is one.
Events have included a murder mystery evening, a Christmas dinner and a fun and games evening.
In total, they’ve made a whopping £3,800 donation to the Charity! Just incredible, and we thank them so much for so many months of dedicated fundraising.
No half measures
Enormous thanks to all the fantastic runners who chose to support RMA – The Royal Marines Charity in this year’s London Landmarks Half Marathon, including veteran Royal Marine Terry Farthing (pictured above left) whose son is a serving Royal Marine. He reported that “the weather was good, I had overdone the training so was surprised I managed it with tendon trouble and a heal spur, however when I explained to my son I had a bit of a niggle, his abusive reply took me back to my days in the mob and certainly motivated me!”!”
Also veteran RM Dean Darke (pictured right) who also sent us some great photos, including those where “I am going quite strong, but another where I am clearly regretting my decision to take part!”
Huge thanks, also, to the fabulous volunteer ‘cheer team’ from RMA’s City of London, and Windsor & District branches in the guise of Mr & Mrs Lou Sartorel, Mac Eyre-Verner (above middle), Frank Butler and Graeme Golightly who flew the flag for the Charity and cheered our runners on while bucket shaking at the roadside!
Together, they raised over £2,655, which is just incredible.
Eggs-eptional Easter weekend in the South West!
After an illustrious service career, former Royal Marine Scotty Mills is now an inspirational speaker and elite team coach whose new book ‘Never Give In – The 12 Commando Rules For Life’, was the driving force behind Friday’s sell-out ‘Evening with Scotty Mills’ in Exmouth, Devon.
The event was a great success, raising a whopping £923.37 for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity through book sales and a raffle!
It was a lovely, sometimes emotional, evening with a full house that ended with a standing ovation for the speakers after veteran RM Lee Spencer joined Scotty on stage for an impromptu Q&A about his own life challenges resulting from his accident.
We are so hugely grateful for such amazing support.
On Saturday, there was an additional ‘impromptu’ collection at the Exeter Chiefs Sandy Park rugby stadium– a huge thank you to our 10 bucket shakers who donned their high vis’s at the last minute to help support the surprise collection. Thank you to the Chiefs and the Exeter Foundation for giving us this extra opportunity to join them.
And on Sunday, our fundraising team supported the 42Cdo lads who took part in a rugby tournament in memory of the Magnificent 7 – the seven brave men from 42 Cdo who paid the ultimate price and lost their lives in Op Herrick 14 in 2011.
The legacy and memory of the Mag 7 lives on through fundraising and commemorative events such as this one and a huge thank you to the team (some of whom had not played serious rugby before) led by L/Cpl ‘Jenko’ Jenkins (pictured bottom right 5th from left).
Cadet Will (pictured right of flag), who is reportedly ‘obsessed’ with the Marines and for medical reasons can’t play contact sport, was taken under the team’s wing and made their water boy for the day – an extra special treat because it was his birthday on Easter Monday!.
The guys smashed their target and have, to date, raised an amazing £1,136.61 (inc gift aid) for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. Fantastic result – and massive thanks to all involved.
Fancy a Land Rover?
Attention all Land Rover fans! Don’t miss your chance to win a Defender 130 and support RMA – The Royal Marines Charity at the same time! You can enter this raffle hosted by David Lea below.