Edition 64

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’s bumper edition is full of really BIG news – we proudly report the giddy heights being reached by some world-class champions, fantastic sponsorship support, milestone birthday challenges, and yet more gruelling fundraising in action – and tickets for MFM 2024 are now on sale!

Thank you as always for your continued support.

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Big names sponsor Guildhall Dinner

We are delighted to announce the three main corporate sponsors of our 2023 Guildhall Dinner in London on 8th November – Patron Capital is again Headline sponsor;  Edgar Brothers has signed up as Event partner, and Olympian Homes is sponsoring the evening’s Champagne. 

RMA – The Royal Marines Charity Director of Fundraising & Communications, Caroline Casey, says: “As uncertain economic times persist, we are hugely grateful to attract the philanthropy of these three major corporate sponsors who have so generously agreed to champion our flagship event.”

Headline sponsors, Patron and Keith and Lauren Breslauer have been active supporters of the Royal Marines Charity for over ten years, responsible for over £4M of support, and have directly helped many hundreds of families and veterans through the years.  In addition, the couple directly sponsor and support individuals and events for the veteran community.

Event partner sponsor, Edgar Brothers, is already a key Commando Force partner. It employs several ex-Royal Marines alongside ex-Army personnel and is the supplier of a new assault rifle and various other capabilities now used by the Corps as a whole.

Director Mike Newman says: “Those who serve in the Royal Marines embody the highest levels of professionalism, discipline, and perseverance with values that are crucial for success both in the military and in the corporate world. We wanted to help make a genuine difference in their lives and contribute also to the well-being and the welfare of those affected by their service.”

This is a sentiment echoed by Olympian Chairman, Mark Slatter, who comments:  “Olympian Homes is proud to sponsor the Champagne reception for the RMC Guildhall Dinner and grateful for the continued amazing work the Charity does for all our ex- and serving Royal Marines.” 

The annual Guildhall Dinner is the Charity’s flagship fundraiser that last year raised in excess of £1m.

On the Hoof

Serving Royal Marine, Keiron Prosser, together with nine other serving, veterans and non-serving  team members, have just set out to trek the tough Le Chemin de la Liberté (Freedom Trail), unsupported.

They will be on the ‘fundraising’ hoof for four days, hiking 80km (50 miles) from southern France across the Pyrenees mountain region into northern Spain, on what is regarded as one of the hardest wartime escape routes. In true RM fashion, each is carrying enough food, water and equipment to sustain themselves in bergans weighing up to 60lbs.

Keiron explains: “As a serving Royal Marine CSgt, RMA – The Royal Marines Charity has immensely supported myself and my family since my son, William, was born with life-limiting muscular dystrophy back in 2011 and I want to give back by raising as much funds as possible for this fantastic charity.

Please take a look at my JustGiving page which has all the details and it is where I will be welcoming donations up until the completion of the event on 8th September – so please spare a few quid if you can.”

Gold plated! 

Huge congratulations to RM veteran, triple amputee, champion kayaker and RMA – The Royal Marines Charity Ambassador, Jon White, who secured a gold medal at the 2023 ICF Canoe Marathon World Championships in the Para KL2 Men’s class.

The event was held in Vejan, Denmark and his success bodes well for him being chosen for GB’s 2024 Paralympics’ team. 

British Canoeing reported: ‘He had a brilliant race and even paddling in a small field, White was able to display his incredible paddling talent, finishing over three minutes ahead of the other competitors. He completed the 11.1km course with a time of 1:01:51.

Speaking after the race, Jon said: “I’m super happy. I got a silver in this race last year, so to get the gold this year is pretty amazing. I was hopeful but the problem is with the para races, we don’t have any other races throughout the year, so you’ve got no idea who is going to turn up, what they’ve done in the last twelve months, so you just have to give it your all and hope for the best.” ‘

On his way!

Currently closing in on Perth (Scotland), RAC patrol Lee Wingate from Portsmouth is fast clocking up the miles in his quest to become the first to run unsupported from John O’Groats to Land’s End (JOGLE), creating a new world record for this famous route’s toughest category.

Despite the unseasonably hot weather, reports are that ‘Lee is in a great place, mindset and physically  – he is finding it tough with the heat but is enjoying the cooler evenings’.

A locally-based colleague drove past him near Aviemore earlier this week to capture the photo above left. He said: “I had the opportunity to be the first patrol to see Lee on his JOGLE near Aviemore. He welcomes any encouragement but cannot accept any help as he must remain unsupported. He’s covered some difficult terrain in unseasonably hot weather in Scotland. Wishing him a safe and speedy journey.”

Lee is planning on taking between 18-21 to run the 860 miles or so, raising funds for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity in memory of his grandfather who was a Royal Marines Commando.

You can join us in keeping track of him here.

Marvellous milestone birthday bashes

Milestone birthdays provide the perfect opportunity to tick something off that ‘must-to’ bucket list, or simply decide it’s time to do something amazing!

We are enormously grateful that these special people chose to fundraise for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity at the same time – thank you all so much!

Approaching her 60th birthday, Lynn Fordham (left photo wearing purple), who is also Chair of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, decided it was time to climb Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania with her husband and son.  Some good friends decided to join them, including Nichol and Scott Williams (sitting right and standing far right respectively) who, as Team Williams, set up a fundraising page that, to date, has raised over £2,000 (inc gift aid).

Everything went to plan and they all reached the summit on Lynn’s birthday. Nichol posted: “The hardest thing we have ever done and pushed my body way past what it was capable of but we got to the summit at 0830 having earlier left base camp Barafu at midnight, gaining over 1,200 meters of elevation but only covering 5km!!!

I’m not going to lie, this is a trip not for the faint-hearted, it was tough from the off. I’m so pleased I put all the extra hard work in with all the training, despite wanting to skip a day here and there. I’m so glad I didn’t!!! 

There is still time to donate on our JustGiving page to our amazing chosen charity RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and all money goes towards the amazing work these guys do, and a massive thank you to everyone who has donated so far.”

Brenda Cogswell (left on right-hand photo), too, wanted to do something to celebrate a special milestone birthday – so on her 70th birthday last month, set off with her sister on a 70-mile, five day adventure in Scotland.

“The trip was amazing, gruelling and there were days when we paddled through some appalling weather. Jackie, my sister, isn’t any kind of camper so for her it was a real challenge!

My dad was a Royal Marine in WW2 but took his own life back in 1968, aged 45. As a charity supporter, I wanted to make this a very special trip and raise as much money as possible for them.”

Brenda exceeded her fundraising target, raising over £1k for the Charity. If you would like to boost this even further, here is a link to her JustGiving page. 

Mountbatten Festival of Music 2024 – tickets now on sale  

Tickets are on sale now for the 2024 Mountbatten Festival of Music (MFM) featuring three spectacular concerts performed by the world-famous Massed Bands of His Majesty’s Royal Marines. There will be an evening performance on Friday 8th March, and a matinee and evening concert on Saturday 9th March, 2024.

Proceeds go to Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charities and the Young Lives vs Cancer Charity.

MFM 2024 will, as always, feature a wide selection of music to suit all tastes, from traditional marches and performances by the precision-perfect Corps of Drums, to music from the big screen and world-class soloists. Highlights from the past few years have included the music of Elton John, Stevie Wonder, Dire Straits, Michael Jackson, Glenn Miller and even The Prodigy.

If you have never been to the Mountbatten Festival of Music before, why not give it a try next year. We can guarantee that once you’ve experienced it once, you will want to make it an annual diary date.

The concerts sell out quickly, so don’t miss out – book your tickets early (they make great Christmas presents, too!).

STOP PRESS!  Invictus Games calls 

We’re incredibly proud that Becky York, a former member of the Royal Marines Band Service and a Charity beneficiary, is one of the 59-strong Team UK – supported by the Royal British Legion – competing at the Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 that starts this weekend.

Becky, an accomplished pianist and clarinet player, was medically discharged after sustaining a serious hip injury during a promotional training exercise, that became increasingly worse over time. 

Our Employment & Education team, who specialise in supporting into ‘civvy street’ those whose career in the Corps has been cut short due to injury or sickness, helped her recognise the many skills she unknowingly possessed.  Becky last year generously agreed to share her story, during which she talks emotionally about the vital role the Charity played in her successful transition to the commercial world.

At the Invictus Games, Becky will be competing in powerlifting, cycling, indoor rowing and swimming; alongside swimmer and former RM, Paul (Charlie) Charles.

Humungous good luck – go smash it, guys!

Photo courtesy of Costain

In the news last month  

10th August Band Tour Cardiff South Wales Guardian 

11th/16th/19th/22nd/29th/31st  Ben Clough Summit Attack News & Star Cumberland NewsForces.net; BFBS Radio; That’s TV; BBC Radio Lancashire; Lancashire TelegraphCOBSEO

13th Jon White Charity Ambassador Devon Live

15th Joe & Amy Winch Charity Ambassadors Yahoo News; Portsmouth NewsCOBSEO; Radio Solent

15th Summit to Sea fundraiser pirate attack Forces.netMirrorThe Sun; Scottish Sun; Independent; Metro; Daily Express; Devon Live

22nd/25th/27th Lee Wingate Unsupported JOGLE The Sun (nib); John O’Groats JournalCOBSEO