UPDATES

First Charity Event - The Black Rat Race.   Over 100 officers and soldiers within Lashkar Gar pledged $10 each to run 10km around the perimeter of the base (12 laps).  Due to the heat and humidity competitors set off at 0600hrs to scamper over the far from ideal terrain of stone, shale and sand, avoiding armed troops, vehicles and ISO containers. Scott Filmer won the men's category with a time of 37 minutes, Libby Wetcher won the female race in 40 minutes, whilst Bobby Walton-Knight won the veterans’ category in just under 41 minutes.  The event raised over $1100 dollars, equating to ~£700 depending on the day's exchange rate!

Personal Challenges - Swearing, talking too much and needing favours...the ability of the Colonels to talk more than their alloted time in presentations, bad language in the admin office and requiring IT support on personal laptops are all helping towards our total.  The last three weeks has seen over $100 raised from these three things alone.

Hadrians Wall Walk - The Rear Details have been getting involved in the physical too, walking the length of Hadrian's Wall in 4 days.  The rain did not deter them, nor did blisters, falling down holes or the effort of getting up again each day.  Only a dog was Returned to Unit with sore paws, although many of the walkers are limping this week.  The kindness of strangers on the route helped them to net over £200.

Welcome to the BLACK RAT fundraising page.  4th Mechanized Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron (204) are deployed on Op HERRICK 12 as Headquarters Task Force Helmand (TFH HQ).  We have set ourselves the challenge of raising £10,000 for The Soldiers’ Charity - Army Benevolent Fund (ABF) who provides mobility assistance, home modifications, education bursaries and financial support for families who have suffered bereavement and who, despite their sterling work, have experienced difficulties in raising funds in recent years due to the popularity of other charities.

This is a big challenge and will not be possible without your help; the aim is two fold: firstly to show our support to the ABF (www.Soldierscharity.org) and secondly, we intend to raise money in a manner that will challenge ourselves physically and mentally.  Not forgetting, to have some fun along the way.  Over the coming months soldiers will be setting themselves challenges, either individually or collectively to raise money. 

 Race to the Challenge.  As the tallest member of the unit and to remind us of our native Catterick, Lance Corporal Scott Pountney has devised an event that involves scaling the aggregate heights of the three highest peaks in Yorkshire, which are Pen-y-ghent (694m), Ingleborough (723m) and Whernside (736m).  Therefore the Brigade have to reach a height of 2153m.  Each repetition of an exercise will contribute 1cm towards the total height, exercises will include: dips, press ups, situps and squats.  Quintessentially a team event, the more people who enter, the easier it will be.  But what will be reached first? The top of Whernside or muscle fatigue.  Date TBC. 

 World Cup Sweepstake and Auction.  Captain Stuart Thomas is organising a World Cup Sweepstake and a Charity Auction during the World Cup. If you wish to donate sports memorabilia, pls contact the Troop at donations_OpHERRICK12@hotmail.co.uk

Facebook Pyramid.   It is our aim to send the Black Rat round the world – all soldiers will send the Justgiving website to everyone in their Facebook/Myspace address book asking for a £1 donation with a request for the e-mail to be sent on.  Can the Black Rat make it to , South America and , how much will be raised from this alone?

Families’ Activities.  We are asking our families to come up with their own events in order to join in.  Could you train and run a 10km race in the whilst we are away?  Could your local football team run a charity match and ask for donations? Does your child want to make and sell cakes at a local event?  Will your local Roundtable or Rotary Club provide a   small donation? Do join in and watch the next few months fly by until we are home again.  We can provide collecting tins for you and just require them returning to our 2IC Rear Details in Catterick.

Challenge.  Our fundraising will end when we return to Catterick Garrison after leave with a competition in November 2010.  Teams will run/tab/walk and probably limp the length of this historic wall.  The aim for some will be to beat the record, for most it will be a fun day out. 

As events come up, please help us in our fund raising efforts by making a donation through this site, a small amount to each event, or pick the challenge you think the hardest and support that one.  In any case, please keep visiting this website to keep abreast of events and to keep in touch with the Unit. Anything you can do to help us would be greatly appreciated, be it the price of a few drinks on a Friday night, to seeking the kindness of strangers and generosity of entrepreneurs.  Be part of our challenge to raise £10,000 for the ABF. Certa Cito.

Major Sally Richardson

OC 4 Mech Bde HQ and Sig Sqn (204)