NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010 29
One step
beyond
IT’S been a hectic period of late for Lt Andy Anderson, the officer in charge
the Royal Navy and Royal Marines
of Stonehouse Wing, said: “The Stonehouse
Charity (RNRMC), with fundraising
recruits are a particularly focused team.
events across the country and indeed
‘Their determination to succeed and to
a fund-giving meeting that handed
return to mainstream training is admirable.
“Taking part in this challenge gave the
out almost a quarter of a million
recruits a fantastic sense of achievement and
● Lt Jim Harkin and AB Danny Tregarthen of HMS Somerset
pounds in just two hours.
a massive boost to their morale.”
Saharan sunset
First to take the plunge – quite literally as
The recruits have already raised over £600
you can see from the photograph right – were
for the RNRMC, but further donations
the personnel of the Royal Navy Leadership
can be made through their webpage at
Academy at HMS Collingwood who staged
www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/
a Jump 4 Life fundraising event.
stonehouse.
for men of
Sailors and civilians scrambled to the top
At the end of the triathlon, the different
of the High Wires Rope Course to take a
departments within Raleigh gathered to
leap of faith – and raise cash for the charity
present their donations garnered throughout
dedicated to the whole of the Naval service.
2009 – a total of £13,389.
For those of a less excitable disposition,
Somerset
Collingwood also laid on a cake-sale – and
HOWEVER it’s nice to report that
between the two the day raised over £300.
the RNRMC hasn’t only been on the
On board the Second Sea Lord’s flagship receiving end of cheque donations.
HMS Victory the people who have made a The trustees of the Naval Service Amenity
TWO sailors from HMS Somerset included giant sand dunes and salt real impact as Champions of the payroll- Fund, a subsidiary of the RNRMC – all
have spent six days trekking plains. Not to mention the severe giving scheme (the Sports, Amenities serving officers or senior rates – sat down
117km across the Sahara desert to sand storms... and Benevolence Scheme or SABS) were together at the end of 2009 to determine
raise money for Help for Heroes. The two spent several months recognised for their valuable support. how the charity’s funds should be allotted.
The two – Lt James Harkin and in the run-up to the event working The Command SABS champion WO1 Decisions made included:
AB(Sea) Danny Tregarthen – slept on their fitness to be able to tackle Dean Rogers said: “The support from the ■ £127,000 as grants to all deployed
under the desert stars at night and the harsh conditions. network of SABS champions has been ships and units for the six months until their
walked for up to seven hours in Lt Jim Harkin said: “Help fantastic. next meeting in June;
the varying desert terrains which for Heroes is a well-established “The Fleet unit champions have increased ■ £20,000 for the facilities at Bavaria
charity undertaking vital and the awareness of SABS and the RNRMC Surprise, to fund a bicycle repair unit and to
tangible work on behalf of our throughout 2009, and I look forward to allow families to enjoy the centre;
Armed Forces. their support in 2010 to help me increase ■ £36,500 to build a new fitness centre at
“I am extremely proud both to the take-up and awareness of SABS.” RNAS Culdrose;
serve in the Royal Navy and to Training base HMS Raleigh down in ■ £20,000 towards trips to Lourdes for
help raise money for those who Cornwall has also thrown its weight behind disabled children and their helpers;
have paid a heavy cost for their the Naval charity, not only by pushing the ■ £18,000 of new equipment for the
service. SABS scheme but by running a range of Regional Rehabilitation Unit in Plymouth;
“Having recently returned charity events. ■ £3,800 for a trip to Köln for the
from a six-month operational As spirits were high pre-Christmas, Volunteer band from RNAS Yeovilton.
deployment, I was grateful that Raleigh folk enjoyed the sight of Santas, The committee next meet in June this
HMS Somerset could release us angels, and other festive characters running year when they will look at the next set of
to participate in our fundraising around the Cornish base. grants to improve the life of serving men and
before we deploy again.” Some 200 people from Corporate women, and their families.
The commanding officer of Squadron donned some unusual garb to One of the reasons for the formation
HMS Somerset, Cdr Andrew race three miles in a festive dash, organised of the RNRMC was to give one focus for
Burns, said: “Lt Jim Harkin by CPO Ali James. grants to other Naval charities.
and AB Danny Tregarthen have Winner’s laurels went to Logs Stephen This goal was given a boost when the
worked hard to raise money for Stokoe who clocked up a time of 15 minutes RNRMC took on the role of distributing
the charity and preparing for and 57 seconds. all the funds from Greenwich Hospital to
the physical demands that are Logs Stokoe said: “it was a good laugh, Naval charities.
required in the Sahara desert.” although it was harder than I thought it In the past each charity was required to
If you would like to show would be. apply directly to the Hospital.
● Blindfolded mimes take part
in the St Dunstan’s Forces
your support, the team have “It was a great way of getting everyone Combining these Greenwich funds with
Challenge at HMS Sultan
websites for donations at www. together and it would be good to do this its own investments and SABS income, the
justgiving.com/James-Harkin more often.” charity made over £2.2 million in grants,
Blindfold
and www.justgiving.com/ Logs David Symons was just beaten making it the largest single grantmaker in
Daniel-Tregarthen. into second place – he said: “it was a bit the Naval service.
annoying to be pipped at the post. In addition, the RNRMC has increased
“It was a good race, but the up-hills were the amounts given to previous recipients
games at
Scottish
tough.” and the number of grant recipients.
Organiser CPO Ali James said: “The idea A brief summary includes:
was to organise a fun event to bring together ■ Royal Navy and Royal Marines
the newly-formed Corporate Squadron to Children’s Fund – £600,000
Sultan
Peaks
raise money for the Royal Navy’s charity.” ■ Royal Navy Officers’ Charity –
THE Navy and Army have joined
The event has raised over £600, and £50,000
forces to tackle the Three Peaks
anyone still wishing to make a donation ■ Royal Navy Benevolent Trust –
Challenge.
JUST before the Christmas
can do so through the website http:// £1,420,000
Former Army man and now
break, over 180 air engineers
uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ and typing in ■ WRNS Benevolent Trust – £80,000
Naval hydrographer LS(HM)
and staff from the Defence
the name ‘Ali James’ in the friend box. ■ RM Benevolent Fund – £30,000
Chris Smith from HMS Scott
College of Aeronautical
It wasn’t just Raleigh’s Corporate ■ Royal Alfred Seafarers Society –
recently completed the 13-mile
Engineering set themselves the
Squadron however who had their eyes on £30,000
Hellrunner event through rivers
challenge of a games afternoon
fundraising for the RNRMC. ■ Not Forgotten Association – £25,000
and bogs; and admits: “After
– blindfolded...
Trainee sailors in Stonehouse Wing, a ■ Alexandra House – £25,000
this I was hooked and wanted to
Among the challenges on
small division of Raleigh devoted to helping ■ HCPT Adult Pilgrimage – £5,000
challenge myself.”
offer for the men and women
injured recruits regain their fitness and Another sad, but hugely significant, duty
Chris still keeps in touch with
were five-a-side football;
return to full training, set out to tackle a that falls to the RNRMC is to pay a grant
his old comrades in the Royal
sinking a basketball in the
Double Iron Man Triathlon. to the next of kin in the event of a death
Engineers through Facebook, and
hoop; and in the festive spirit,
As it turned out, the Raleigh recruits rose in service.
online came up with the plan to
dressing a Christmas tree.
to the occasion and more – so the original This grant of £12,000 tax-free is made
tackle the Three Peaks Challenge.
available usually within 48 hours of the
The St Dunstan’s Forces
plan of swimming 4.8 miles was bested by
He said: “I put a Facebook
RNRMC receiving the news of the death.
Challenge asks people to put
an additional 5.4 miles; cycling 224 slipped
page together and that was it, In 2009, 23 families were struck this
themselves in the situation of a
up to a total of 274.3 miles; and the 52.4
people were offering to join in so
miles walking or running on the treadmill blow, and £276,000 was paid out to help
St Dunstaner, tackling certain
much that I had to select a team.
was almost doubled to 88.5 miles. at a time of real need when the last thing
tasks without the aid of sight.
“Being in the Navy now but
Nine Stonehouse recruits took part in the to worry about should be immediate cash
The afternoon, and its
having served in the Army I
challenge, supported by their instructors and flow.
enthusiastic participants, raised
thought it would be good to get
some notable guest participants – including Robert Robson, the chief executive office
over £300 for the charity that
a team from all over the Armed
the Second Sea Lord Vice Admiral Sir Alan of the RNRMC, said: “It is just fantastic
supports Service people with
Services to give it a go.”
Massey and Military Cross recipient MA that we are in a position to make such
visual impairment.
The team features three RN, Kate Nesbitt. significant grants to these vital charities – all
St Dunstaner Gerry Jackson
four Army and one ex-RN: of whom are there to help both during and
presented shields to Chris
LS(HM) Chris Smith; Sgt Paul long after active duty is over.
Bailey and Lt Cdr Al Merchie
Hussain RE; AB(HM) Jack
Bulwark’s boat This responsibility falls to the RNRMC
in recognition of their support
Boorman; AB(HM) Luke Nolan; as the SABS payroll-giving scheme replaced
for the HMS Sultan St Dunstan
Capt James Mackenzie, 2 Mercian SAILORS from HMS Bulwark have given the old Dependants Fund payment.
summer camp in 2009.
Regiment; Sgt Andrew Horton support to a volunteer project to restore the “We hope to cast our net wider and it is
Event organiser CPO Richard
RE; Sgt Hayley Allen, TA Nurse; RNLI lifeboat George Elmy from Seaham our aim to focus more of our grants on this
Gwilliam said: “It was great to and Paul Butler (a former Survey
in County Durham – their ship’s affi liated long term need.
see the overwhelming support Recorder).
region. The ship has given £100 to the East “But, and I am shameless in making this
given by the RN Air Engineering The event takes place in
Durham Heritage Group who have been request, we need to attract greater funds
studenst and staff. March with fundraising split working to restore the lifeboat since finding into the charity so that we can give more
“We look forward to many between two charities: and her on Ebay. The lifeboat went to the rescue out.”
more events in the future.” you can pledge your support of a fishing boat on the evening of November He urged: “Can I please urge all readers
Proceeds from the event online at www.justgiving.com/ 17 1962, but just outside the harbour it to think how they can support us through
were presented personally at armedforces3peaks for Help for overturned, losing nine of the ten lives fundraising events, one-off donations and
the St Dunstan’s Christmas Heroes or www.justgiving.com/ onboard from both boats – and the lifeboat through the SABS payroll giving scheme.
party at their Ovingdean centre armedforces3peaks2 for charity was severely damaged; although repaired, “Everything we get goes back to the
in Brighton. Beating Bowel Cancer. she decommissioned ten years later. Service so please help us to help you.”
029_NN_feb10 FFG.indd 1 21/1/10 12:21:42
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