Edition 97
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 are updates on key inputs and outputs, news of a few things in the pipeline – and some gen on the Gen!
Thank you as always for your valued support.
News Update
In the first quarter of 2024, our Health & Wellbeing team processed 197 welfare and benevolence grants totalling £205,588, including those to 21 serving personnel and 172 RM veterans, covering everything from funeral costs, emergency accommodation, riser/recliner chair, food vouchers, profiling bed as well as carpets and white goods.
Our Veterans Mental Health Referral team has 94 active cases on the books, that includes 27 new referrals since the beginning of the year; and there are 98 active AFCFS/Pensions’ cases currently being actioned.
Employment & Education has supported 10 beneficiaries (4 Serving/ 6 veterans) with grants totalling over £200k.
And the RMA supported 41 funerals.
Training for world-record attempt
Zoe Darnbrough, Head of Employment & Education, represented RMA – The Royal Marines Charity at the latest Bootnecks in2 Business session at the London Business School hosted by Lydia Wakefield-Yeung, Associate Director, University Outreach and Partnership Development.
The event was sponsored by Jacobs engineering that has recruited and provides career opportunities to scores of Royal Marines.
“Bi2B provides the perfect platform to meet with multiple employers and service leavers,” said Zoe. “Tapping into such an amazing network such as the London Business School which offers MBAs and membership opportunities is hugely valuable when providing support for transitioning or veteran Royal Marines.”
Bootnecks in2 Business connects Royal Marines with business and recruiting opportunities, ensuring that every former Royal Marines Commando, irrespective of rank or specialisation, leverages the Royal Marines network with introductions made via former Royal Marines business people.
Towering feat
Enormous thanks, too, to former Royal Marine Stephen Lamb who successfully completed his lone 120-mile paddle down the Grand Union Canal from Leicester to the Lime House Basin in London, arriving on his 52nd birthday last Friday (19th April).
He then headed over to the Tower of London where he was welcomed by Yeoman of the Guard and fellow Bootneck, Andy Merry.
Steve had set off from Foxton Locks six days earlier and kept to his plan of paddling an average 25 miles a day, portaging the 166 locks and ‘sleeping rough’ alongside the tow path.
He raised almost £9,000 (including Gift Aid) for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. An absolutely terrific achievement. BZ.
Fab finishers
Huge thanks to the following fantastic fundraisers:
Our intrepid London Marathoners – Chloe Allen who completed last weekend’s iconic race in 4 h42m55s; Serving RM Jack Stewart-Richardson who, in spite of wearing a gas mask throughout, finished in an incredible 3h55m45s; and Mark Leishman who took part in the Virtual London Marathon. Between them, they raised over £2,600 (including Gift Aid). Hoofin’.
Sherborne School in Dorset whose senior cadets in its Combined Cadet Force have committed to fundraising for their affiliated charities, choosing to include RMA – The Royal Marines Charity. This year, through a silent auction and ‘Military Question Time’ – and a generous donation – they have raised a magnificent £2,900. Huge thanks to all the amazing students involved.
Drumming up interest
April 21st was Iron Maiden Day! It is a landmark day for worldwide fans of the famous heavy metal band as it marks the 2008 release of the documentary charting their historic ‘Somewhere Back in Time Tour’.
And it will be a landmark day again when one lucky bidder finally secures this sought-after piece of Iron Maiden history. The historic drum kit – named ‘Legacy of the Royals’ – played by their legendary drummer, Nicko McBrain at this year’s Mountbatten Festival of Music, is being auctioned to raise money for RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the Grand Order of Water Rats charity.
To honour the 360th anniversary of His Majesty’s Royal Marines, each of the 11 spectacular hand-crafted drums feature Iron Maiden’s Eddie mascot in a different Royal Marines uniform from 1664 to the present day, with a Spean Bridge Memorial background featured on all drums.
There is still plenty of time to dig deep and make your bid for these much sought-after items of rock history – the online auction closes at 22:00 on Thursday 14th November 2024.
Photo: Musn Cark Ware Crown Copyright
In the pipeline
30th April – 2nd May: 70 students from Bicton College in Devon are taking part in the Baton of Bicton 2024. Yesterday, they were put through their paces by a team of RM Physical Training Instructors prior to their physically gruelling 100-mile three-day charity yomp along the Southwest coastal path between Dorset and their finishing point back at Bicton. The funds they raise will be shared between RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the RNLI. You can support them here.
10th May: In support of our 360 for 360 fundraising campaign (celebrating the 360th anniversary of the Royal Marines), former RM Patrick Townsend will be heading out on a fully unsupported 300-mile circular walk starting and ending at Stonehouse Barracks in Plymouth, Devon. Way to go! You can support him here.
11th-15th May: Friends and colleagues of Royal Marine Harrison Owens – who sadly passed away last year after hard-fought battle with cancer – are taking part in a non-stop 1,500- mile static cycle, the distance of Poole to Gibraltar, to support his young wife and two-year old daughter, Kennedy. The cycle will conclude prior to his ‘kit sale’ taking place, a tradition within the Royal Marines where items of Harrison’s military kit will be auctioned off to his last serving unit. 90% of money raised will go towards Kennedy’s future, the remaining 10% being shared between RMA – The Royal Marines Charity and the Special Boat Service Association. More details here
STOP PRESS
Forces.net has reported that UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is to appoint General Gwyn Jenkins CB OBE ADC, Vice Chief of The Defence Staff, Commandant General Royal Marines and President of RMA – The Royal Marines Charity as his new national security adviser.
He is pictured above at last year’s Corps Families Day.