I have taken on the challenge of fundraising for our Royal Marines in need. Last year I managed (somehow) to Escape the Dunker – a terrifying exercise all Royal Marines face as part of their arduous training to gain their green beret. In 2012 I, along with a small band of fellow Commando Spirit Appeal participants, will be abseiling off a famous London landmark! Why? Because those that risk their all for us are worth it!

Why the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund?

My son is a serving Royal Marine Commando. He served in Afghanistan in 2010 and whilst he has returned a stronger man, 14 of his friends didn’t return and almost one hundred men were injured, from mere scratches for a Commando (broken arms and legs) to triple amputees. I was fortunate enough to meet some of these men and the families of those fallen at their well-earned medal parade and none of them expected anything from anyone – they chose to be Royal Marines and they see it as a part of the terrain of the job. Even the families who lost their loved ones simply echo the thoughts of their men, which is almost without exception, ‘rather I go doing what I chose to do with my life, than go any other way!’

Since that tour, eight more Royal Marines Commandos have given the ultimate sacrifice in Afghanistan with scores injured. The injuries, predominantly from IEDs, are appalling and change that person's life in a millionth of a second forever. Things that they took for granted no longer apply; playing football with their children, walking their children to school, decorating their own homes ... they ask for nothing, but we have opportunity to support them in their hour of need and for me, it's the least we can do.

The money raised goes to the needy families of the men killed in action, as well as those that return from operations with either mental or physical challenges they didn’t have pre-operations. The MOD does its best, but sometimes its best isn’t enough and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund fills the gap. 

This video clip gives a preview of what these men do:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1AUo1pnoVM

What is the Commando Spirit Series?

The Commando Spirit Series of events offers once-in-a-lifetime experiences to test your mettle and gain a rare and privileged insight into what it means to be a Royal Marines Commando today. The events will pit participants against some of the most formidable aspects of the Commando training, stretch them to achieve their fundraising commitment of £10,000 each and buddy them up with a former or serving Royal Marine who will provide motivation and encouragement when the going gets tough.

To find out more about how you could take the ultimate challenge visit www.commandospirit.com