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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, there is plenty of news featuring Courage, Determination, Unselfishness and Cheerfulness in spades – Commando Spirit in action.
Thank you as always for your continued support.
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Give the 3 Peaks a go!
Earlier this year, Royal Marines Commando physical training instructor, Ben Clough, completed the ultimate endurance challenge of running the National Three Peaks; Ben Nevis, Scafell and Yr Wyddf (Snowdon) in just 10 days!
Now, we’re inviting YOU to take on your own unique ‘virtual’ 3 Peaks Challenge and make a difference by raising funds for our Charity.
The mission is to complete the equivalent distance of Ben’s own special Summit Attack, covering a total of 453 miles by December 21st, 2023.
How you tackle this ‘virtual’ challenge is entirely up to you – whether you walk, run, cycle, chip away at it gradually, or go for an epic single effort, it’s your choice! You can track your progress on our virtual map and see how fellow fundraisers are doing.
And if you live near the south coast you could even start by joining former Royal Marines Commando, Chris Oliver (currently starring in the hit Channel 4 series, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins), in this weekend’s 10-mile Great South Run (see ‘Join Chris and be part of the action’ story below for more info).
Off across the Outback!
Sgt Ben Lukowski from Nottingham (pictured left), a Royal Marines Commando living with a traumatic brain injury that has led to functional neuro-disorder, has taken delivery of a custom-designed recumbent tricycle that he will use in an attempt to cross 1,000-miles of remote desert in Australia, after parachuting into the country.
The cost of the trike, along with some of the associated costs, has been jointly funded by RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC).
Ben sets off on 17th Oct 23 for the epic challenge with fellow Royal Marine, Aiden West from HASLER (The Royal Navy Recovery Centre), who is currently recovering from cancer (pictured top second left).
Ben was involved in a road traffic collision and the serious brain injury he sustained has affected his speech and he also has limited muscular control down one side of his body. Ben has been making progress with his recovery, and in February this year, was second placed in the Wounded Warrior Trials Ultimate Champs in the United States of America, competing alongside United States Marine Corps personnel in recovery.
Ben said: “It’s an honour and privilege to be selected by 65 Degrees North, as well as Richie and his team for this challenge. I’d also like to thank the Royal Marines Charity as well as the RNRMC for their ongoing support. I am truly grateful for everything the team has done for me to make this expedition happen. I truly hope I can do repay their faith in me by completing this challenge.”
Danny Egan, Director of Health & Wellbeing with RMA – The Royal Marines Charity (pictured top left), said: “We are pleased to have been able support Ben on this particular challenge alongside RNRMC.
As the Royal Marines own charity, we will do all that is possible to help enable people to overcome adversity and not become defined by any disability. We wish Ben and his fellow adventurer every success on their venture.”
The performance recumbent trike was made by Falmouth-based ICE Trikes and handed over to Ben at HMS DRAKE in Plymouth by Phil Zschiesche from the company’s sales and marketing team (pictured top right).
Giving back
Thanks to a £900 grant from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity, the opportunity to join the annual International Military Pilgrimage to Lourdes turned into a much more life-changing experience than Richard, a Royal Marine veteran, had ever thought possible (pictured left pushing fellow veteran; and second rt, middle).
Battling to come to terms with life back on ‘civvie street’, ‘alone’ without the daily banter of fellow Bootnecks, and the lack of routine and purpose of being a tough Royal Marines Commando, is a mental challenge that many desperately struggle with on leaving the service.
In his own exceptionally moving words, Richard describes just how much the relatively small beneficiary grant meant to him.
Read his inspirational story via the button below.
Sports support
Last year, 10,552 Serving Royal Marines benefited from over £1-million of amenities and sports grants from RMA – The Royal Marines Charity.
Over the summer 2023 leave period alone, Royal Marines Sport continued with some notable events that included cricket at Windsor Castle; while upcoming events include the much-awaited Corps Championships in judo and rugby. Watch more here.
Prized support
We are extremely thankful for the ongoing support received from the Exeter Chiefs Foundation, that last weekend presented us with a cheque for £2,701. We were delighted to go along to the rugby ground at Sandy Park with 29 other local charities to collect this generous share of last season’s bucket collections that were the most successful yet.
We are also hugely grateful to our large band of volunteers who regularly support us with this privileged fundraising opportunity by regularly turning up to help us with match day bucket collections and manning some of the Club’s off-site car parks.
Join Chris and be part of the action!
We are thrilled that former Royal Marines Commando, Chris Oliver – who is currently starring in the hit Channel 4 series, Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins – is not only officially starting this weekend’s AJ Bell Great South Run in Southsea but will also be using it to promote our own Mission Critical – Virtual 3 Peaks Challenge.
Chris says: “Chris says, “I’m honoured to have the opportunity to be the official starter of the AJ Bell Great South Run. I’ve run all my life and it is really inspiring to see people of all ages and abilities commit to training and give it their all on the day, especially as many are running to raise money for charity.
It covers 10 miles so this will be a good start to RMA – The Royal Marines Charity’s Virtual 3 Peaks Challenge!”
The popular run attracts thousands of participants each year and takes in no less than nine historic and iconic landmarks including HMS Victory and the Yomper Statue outside the Royal Marines Museum in Eastney.
Entries close on Friday 13 October at 10am, so it’s not too late to secure your place.
Photo courtesy Great South Run
Whether the weather – or not!
Former Royal Marine Ryan McNeil (pictured left), together with former RM recruit and good mate Andy Mullan, decided three months ago to run the 96 miles from Milngavie in Glasgow to the highlands in Fort William, along the challenging West Highland Way.
The route covers an old drovers’ trail and traverses 13,000 feet, typically taking about five days to complete. They aimed to complete it non-stop with no rest and fundraise for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. “The Royal Marines has had such an impact on my life, so I would like to give back to the RMA and raise money for the event,” explained Ryan.
They duly set off at 19:00hrs on 7th of October, aiming to finish by nightfall the following evening. However, the weather did not play ball – Scotland was issued an amber weather warning with torrential rain, flooding and landslides reported from across the country. “Everything was against us,” said Ryan. “I think we were the only two people on the hills in Scotland. We stuck it out for eight hours and covered 30 miles but I took the decision to call it off as it was becoming unsafe to continue. We did push to the limit as the support had been amazing and we didn’t want to let anyone down.
Everyone has been mega supportive. Most couldn’t believe we even attempted it because of the weather, but we will go again and get it done.”
We are so thankful they made the right decision and have pushed back the epic challenge to next spring. Hoofing effort, lads – and thank you.