Edition 57
As a valued supporter, we are pleased to bring you up-to-speed with a weekly round-up of activities from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the wider Corps Family.
This week, we share news of an exciting move, some truly inspirational fundraising, and a hint of glamour from yesteryear!
Thank you so much for your continued support.
CHAMP Building heralds new era

At the official opening of our new headquarters at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines (CTCRM) in Lympstone (13th July 2023), RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s Chair of Trustees, Lynn Fordham, thanked most sincerely the generosity of the external sponsors who funded the majority of the £1.4M rebuild project, named The CHAMP Building.
The funding, to replace and demolish the former premises, was secured in the main from five funders – The CHAMP Trust; Greenwich Hospital; Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity; Bernard Sunley Foundation; a corporate donation from Peak Scientific, and from private donations.
This has met the Board’s intention that no charity funds that could be spent on welfare support to beneficiaries, should be used to finance a new office building nor the demolition of the former building.
Newly-finished and taking just thirteen weeks to complete from start to finish, The CHAMP Building marks the start of a new era for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
The 336 sq-metre modular unit is wheelchair and disability accessible and includes a 12-seat conference room, break-out spaces and counselling rooms, tipping its hat to its predecessor by being wooden clad, single storey and in the same location at Commando Training Centre. It will be the home to teams from Health & Wellbeing, Fundraising, Communications, Membership and Operations.
Pictured above right unveiling the commemorative plaque are Patrick and Anna Edwardson of the CHAMP Trust together with Ben Curry MBE (far left), RMA – The Royal Marines Charity Chief Executive and Deputy CE Richard Spencer CBE; and Director of Grants, Greenwich Hospital, Jonathan Ball OBE (right).
All good things…

Despite being trapped in a house upstairs on 26 tablets a day, Stan nevertheless got through each day using his strongly entrenched Commando Spirit.
Now, in his late ‘70s and in extremely poor health, he copes daily with much grinding physical discomfort from multiple medical issues including chronic kidney and heart disease, arthritis and type 2 diabetes.
Due to the lack of downstairs toilet facilities in the house, and after several nasty falls on the stairs, Stan had little choice but to remain upstairs for the majority of the day. Financial considerations meant that the obvious solution of downsizing to a bungalow was not a viable option.
He is an intensely proud former serving Royal Marine. He faced much personal danger and adversity during his seven years of service (during which time he served in Aden) but none had ever made life as difficult than the situation he has found himself in over the past few years.
Now, thanks to support from our Health & Wellbeing team who awarded him a beneficiary grant of £2,800 to fit a stairlift to the property, he can go up and downstairs whenever he wants.
“It’s a ‘godsend’. I’m able to enjoy family life again and I no longer feel an outcast in my own home.”
“On behalf of Stan and his wife,” says support volunteer Phil, “I wish to thank the Charity for their support. I only had to make one call and the RM support family got into gear.”
Rollercoaster race for Baby Cam

Next Thursday (27th July), 120 Royal Marine Commandos from all over the country will descend on the South West Coast Path in Dorset to take part in an epic 24-hour endurance relay race.
This is to raise funds for a family whose 11-month-old baby boy, Cameron, has been diagnosed with Leukodystrophy – a rare medical condition which affects the brain’s ability to function and causes a gradual loss of physical and mental capacity.
Cameron’s father, Andy, is a serving Royal Marine currently based at Armoured Support Group RM in nearby Bovington; and the race is the brainchild of fellow Serving Royal Marines, Michael Dowd and Michael Stockdale.
The route of the ‘24-hour Rollercoaster’ relay will follow the steep path along a challenging 86km section of the steeply undulating South West Coastal Path from Lulworth Cove to The Obelisk and back, a total climb of 620m.
Due to the rare nature of baby Cameron’s condition, the family – currently being supported by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity – has had to find a large amount of money for surgery and the follow-up care needed for treatment.
Although Cameron’s life expectancy remains short, this treatment will give them the chance to be a family and savour the time they have together for as long as possible.
The family will be donating additional funds raised to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, Krabble UK, and South West Childrens Hospice.
Young inspiration

11 year-old Brandon Hiles from Budleigh Salterton in Devon will be setting off from the Spean Bridge area this Saturday (22nd July) at the start of his kayak challenge in Scotland to raise funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. He and his dad, a former serving Royal Marine, will first walk to the Spean Bridge Memorial, before then paddling the 100km from Fort William to Inverness along the Caledonian canal through the Great Glen.
” My dad also kayaked the Caledonian canal when he was 11 with the Scouts. He will be accompanying me on my adventure and we’ll be camping along the way,” said Brandon.
What a brilliant thing to do – and what an awesomely inspiring young man.
Gig race surprise

Huge belated thanks to the Eastney Cruising Association (ECA) for their very generous £500 donation to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity following their recent annual Cockleshell Challenge. This demanding 7.2 nautical mile open-water race for Cornish Pilot Gigs and other seagoing rowing craft is held in honour of the Cockleshell Heroes, the race taking place through the waters of the Solent in which they trained. The Cockleshell Heroes were the ten Royal Marines who took part in Operation FRANKTON in December 1942.
Members of the RMA Gig Club taking part were not only thrilled to have finished in a very credible second place, taking 1:29:33 to complete the course (and beating the Royal Navy Pilot Gig Club) but also to have again met one special member of ECA’s winning Mixed Cockleshell race crew – Karen Gardner.
Karen was Miss Globe & Laurel 1982! She is pictured above wearing the original t-shirt she wore when welcoming 3 Commando Brigade home following Op CORPORATE, and “remains a strong supporter of the Royal Marines Family to this day”.
Join historic run!

If you are thinking about putting your running shoes on this autumn to raise money for charity, or already have your own place in the 2023 Great South Run on October 15th, we’d really love you to run on behalf of the Royal Marines Family.
This is the South Coast’s biggest running event, suitable for all ages and abilities with a flat, 10-mile route around Portsmouth that includes the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard, home to HMS Victory and the Mary Rose Museum.
For more information and to sign up, please visit: https://rma-trmc.org/events/great-south-run-2023/