16 NAVY NEWS, OCTOBER 2010
From concept to reality
BY NOW, if you read these
pages regularly, you should hopefully have noticed that the March for Honour is
taking place next month. Four teams from each of the
Armed Services speedmarching across Britain to raise one million pounds
for the Royal British
Legion, a concept created and led by Royal Marine L/Cpl Ram Patten (pictured right). But an idea born out of a very
personal experience. Ram is Royal to the core; his impressive arm is adorned with a massive globe and laurel tattoo; and he laughs and talks with frankness of his experiences in Afghanistan.
And with equal frankness of
Ocean runners and racers
A STINT on drug-busting duties in the Caribbean has brought in more than £2,500 for charities. WO Dave Plant completed a half-marathon on board to raise money for the VACTERL Association Support Group which helps families affected by birth defects. Royal Marines Capt Adam Abouzeid and Jon Beete (pictured above by LA(Phot) Guy Pool) completed a 30-mile yomp on
Quart tots up
THE Faslane branch of the Royal Naval Engineers’ Quart
raised £1,500 at a black-tie dinner which will go towards refurbishing a cottage in the grounds of Erskine hospital for Armed Forces. The money will be used for recently-disabled servicemen to acclimatise to family and civilian life
at hand. whilst having support close
The Quart Club traces its roots back to 1930 when it was formed near Plymouth to ‘discourage the gin drinking habit in the Royal Navy’ – an ingenious excuse for a beer-drinking club – and the Faslane branch formed in 1997.
Club
the ship’s treadmills, carrying full kit and weapons, to raise money for the RN & RM Benevolent Trust.
The ship’s PO and Sgts Mess hosted a charity
night on board for Castle Green Community School in the ship’s affiliated town of Sunderland. The school caters for youngsters aged 11 to 19 who have behavioural or social difficulties and other learning challenges.
Pompey boost for RNRMC
PORTSMOUTH Football Club has joined forces with Jobsite to support the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. The RNRMC has been given
advertising space in the stadium and on the team clothing. In addition, 1,000 tickets for
charity will run through the whole football season. Find out more at www.rnrmc.
org.uk.
Fratton Park games have been donated to RNRMC for 1,000 of its beneficiaries. The support to the Naval
‘horse-racing’
his struggle months afterwards coming to terms with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). But this isn’t a tale of woe; this is a tale of someone who came back from the edge of darkness and wants to help others find their own way back. Ram said: “For a three-month
period after I got back from Afghanistan in December 2007, everything seemed to go wrong. “The hardest part was not being able to identify what was going on. I was stressed, without knowing what I was stressed about. And it grew exponentially.
“The diagnosis of the PTSD
was emotionally complex. On the one hand it was depressing, yet on the other it was a relief to be able to put a label on my condition. “After nine months of
treatment, I realised that one of my main strengths that helped me get through PTSD was my self- help approach. “Everyone deals with PTSD in
their own way – what works for me might not work for another. “It is like a fingerprint; everyone has individual traits but there are common characteristics.” He continued:
“At the
beginning, PTSD was like a dark tunnel with no light at the end. Was it never-ending or merely a complex combination of winding turns?
“Once I was able to see the
light, it became progressively larger with time, thus making me feel better by the day. “I hope that this cause can assist others living with PTSD to understand that there is an end to the sometimes debilitating symptoms.
Replica models in 1.1250th BRITISH RFA’S “The treatment helped me find
myself again. If it worked for me, it can work for others.” He adds: “I went for a run in
November last year, I was in a better place than I had ever been in my life. And I thought: ‘I want to actually do something for other people.’”
And so the March for Honour was born.
Setting out in early November, teams from the Royal Marines, Royal Navy, RAF and Army – distinguished only by their berets and capbadges – will speedmarch across Britain to meet at Wootton Bassett.
From here the teams will head off together to arrive in London for the official Remembrance ceremonies. And the Royal British Legion is
the natural beneficiary. Ram said: “I am in awe of the
Legion’s work. They give 100 per cent irrespective of the perceived importance and with no prejudice to Service. “Next year the Legion celebrates
its 90th anniversary, and I applaud their achievements and dedication to the welfare of the Armed Forces family.
“They have been very committed to the cause. The RBL Riders Branch will also be accompanying the teams along their routes. “I wasn’t aware I was entitled to join the Legion.” He added: “I want to demonstrate that my generation is prepared to reimburse the efforts of our predecessors. “I want to do this to pay homage and thanks to all who have served in conflicts past. “If it hadn’t been for their
sacrifices, I would not have had the honour to serve Queen and country today.”
■ Find out more at www.
march4honour.com, or follow the cause on Facebook and Twitter. You can pledge your support online, or by texting the word MARCH to 70222 which donates £3 plus one text at standard network rate.
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Woolly bear on the loose
ANYONE who regularly trained on the streets of Plymouth over the summer months may have seen the strange figure of a fellow runner dressed in an old woollen bearsuit complete with hat, scarf and gloves. Underneath
this apparel was
CPOMA Daniel Rowley, a Chief Medic from FOST, and there was a reason for his unseasonally warm garb.
This month Daniel heads off
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to the Amazon Rainforest to run the Jungle Marathon, a 137-mile (or 222km) self-sufficient race through the forest which takes seven
days to complete and
includes a number of Amazon River crossings, each of up to 200 yards across. Notoriously unforgiving, with
harsh terrain changes including swamps, jungle undergrowth and a whole day running on sand, this
race is only taken on by the most experienced athletic adventurers who can deal with piranhas, parasitic infestations, poisonous plants, and heat and humidity under the jungle canopy. The run up to the race has required months of preparation and training. Whilst not running in his NBCD fireman’s training suit, Daniel has been watching local football on his static bike turbo trainer, in full bearsuit with the heating turned up high. He has also contacted hundreds
of famous people, organisations and sporting teams to ask for donations of kit/memorabilia, and there will be a charity auction for everything received later this year in aid of Help for Heroes. To read more about Daniel’s jungle adventures and to donate, go to
www.bmycharity.com/ danielrowley
wet wives
Watch out for the
IT’S October, it’s wet, it must be time for the Wet and Dirty Wives to tackle the Royal Marine Commando Challenge again. Rachel Cousins will be tackling the course for the third year, along with nine other ‘willing’ volunteers: Joe Riley, Sam Tubbs, Steph Tubbs, Lindsey
Reany Sarahs, Nyree McCourt, and Sarah Beattie. This year the team are running for charity The Group C, who provide support for injured Royal Marines. If you would like to pledge your visit www.justgiving.
support, com/wetanddirtywives.
THE Royal Navy Royal Marines Children’s Fund is holding a charity day at Goodwood Motor Circuit on Sunday October 24. The organisers promise a fun
A day at the races
day out, with picnics on the lawn, a bouncy castle and balloon race, plus the opportunity for visitors to get round the famous racing circuit by whatever means they can devise – except by motor. Entries will be welcome from those who want to try their hand at cycling, running, going by scooter, space hopper, roller skate – or any way without an engine. Entry is £5 per family or £2 for an individual. For an information pack, or to register, contact Clare Scherer on 01243 787807 or email
rnchildren@btconnect.com
Scottish run Stuart’s
WHITEHALL watchkeeper PO Stuart Heron ran the Moray Marathon near RAF Lossiemouth (formerly RNAS Fulmar) in September in aid of Cancer Research. Stuart, who leaves the RN this
year after 23 years, works as an engineer watchkeeper in MOD Main Building in Whitehall. He particularly wants to help the charity because his wife has recovered from cancer. To donate, go to http://
www.runningsponsorme.org/ stuartheron
FORCES Cars Direct turned their backs on their customary four-wheeled method of transport to take part in the Deepings Raft Race for Help for Heroes. The team, from the military car sales company, have so far raised £1,632.50 but hope to top their efforts of £3,500 from 2009. You can boost their total at
Cars and rafts
www.justgiving.com/forces-car- direct-raftrace.
Cheaper to Heathrow
THE Heathrow Express has increased its discount for military personnel to 50 per cent off, with a donation to Help for Heroes. Richard Robinson of Heathrow Express said: “We have always offered a discount for the Armed Forces to show our support for this country’s Service personnel. “We
have picked this last
quarter of 2010 to make significant enhancements to our assistance for Help for Heroes. We have increased the discount to 50 per cent and implemented a 10 per cent donation for Help for Heroes to show our appreciation.” Find out more at www.
heathrowexpress.com and for full terms and conditions.
Jarwood, Nikki Flack, Helen Girling,
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