Hello there!

The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund gives much needed help and support to Royal Marines and their families. The simple fact of the matter is that due to conflicts in recent years more and more Royal Marines are getting seriously injured or dying. Thus the crucial service that this organisation provides is increasingly needed. And so, respectfully, I am asking for you for your money. I’m not asking for a lot, just a few pounds maybe (it’s like a drink or two on a night out), but if lots of people do this I think we can raise a pretty significant sum.

In the final week of their commando course, potential Royal Marines must complete a 30 mile ‘yomp’ in under 8 hours. For those who don’t know, a yomp is a fast hike loaded with kit, and Royal Marine Commandos are famous for them.  They also have to do a nine mile speed march in 90 minutes weighted with full fighting order), a six mile endurance course in 73 minutes and an aerial confidence assault course in 12 minutes. All these times are even shorter for officers.

I have a fundraising target of £5000 and if I make a substantial amount of that, I will be travelling up to Scotland in September with a load of other people who are all trying to raise money like myself for the RMCTF, to attempt the 30 miler mentioned above. I’m doing to this to raise awareness about the insane training and tests they have to complete in order to wear their green beret, and to gain an experience myself of what it is like. I’ll be spending the next several months training for it with the help of a Royal Marines buddy.

So please, I know money is tight, but it would really be appreciated if you could spare a couple of quid (or more if you’d like to!). I think it goes without saying that the guys in the Royal Marines are a spectacular bunch, and that they and their families would massively appreciate anything you can offer. I can’t really offer you any material benefits for your generosity, but if you do give, I would love to buy you a beer next time I see you to say thanks. Plus, you’ll also get that nice fuzzy warm glow feeling for doing something nice.

 

Thanks for reading,

 

Ollie

 

 

 A little more information for those who are interested.

‘The Yomp’ is an event organisation by an organisation called ‘Commando Spirit.’ The people behind it are brilliant and incredibly nice. If this is something that you feel you might like to do, please ask me about it, or get in contact with them.

The yomp that I’m doing is in the Scottish Highlands around the historic Achnacarry Castle. There will be a few dozen other people like me doing it, though I am probably one of the youngest as many of them have jobs and are being sponsored by their companies to do this. The goal of the RMCTF is to raise £6,000,000 by the 350 anniversary of the Royal Marines in October next year, and Commando Spirit are appealing to raise £1,000,000 of this. They are currently about 2/3rd of the way there. The target is high, but of course it is, for it is an organisation affiliated with the Royal Marines and these guys are renowned for achieving the incredible.

The link below shows where abouts the yomp will be taking place.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Achnacarry+Castle&ll=56.943101,-4.998608&spn=0.088018,0.300751&safe=off&hq=Achnacarry+Castle&radius=15000&t=h&z=13

 

 

How exactly does your money help?

The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund has probably the widest purposes of almost any Service charity – helping the wounded and injured; providing support for those still serving by funding decompression activities, homecoming events and memorials; providing through-life support to those who have left the Corps or have lost loved ones. Quite simply, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund will help when others cannot.

 

Below is a video about the Royal Marines and the challenges they face. Please watch!

The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1AUo1pnoVM