Story
My name is Major Tom Perkins. I’m an Infantry Officer currently serving with the British Army in Helmand Province. My battalion is working directly alongside the Afghan National Army (ANA), doing our very best to train and mentor them into a credible and effective force, within a very much wider effort here in Afghanistan.
On Wednesday 1st September I ran a 26-mile marathon within the ANA’s permanent home here in Helmand; Camp Shorabak. This is in an effort to raise in excess of £5,000 for the benefit of British Army soldiers injured or the families of soldiers killed whilst serving over here. I’m doing this through The Army Benevolent Fund ~ The Soldiers Charity.
In the past few years I’ve competed in a number of extreme marathons, the most painful of which were the Everest Marathon in Nepal and the Death Valley Marathon in California (see pictures on the left). This self-generated Shorabak Marathon proved equally painful, principally because of the very little time I've had here set aside to train, and the relentless heat.....but that was point.
At 2.30pm, with the thermometer hovering at 116F, I set off. Alongside were 2 Sergeant Majors from the Afghan National Army whom I work alongside on a daily basis, and our Battle Captain, Stu Young. After a couple of laps the Afghans politely left me to it, themselves parched, not being able to drink during the period of Ramadan.
A number of soldiers, NCOs and Officers from 1 SCOTS Battle Group then joined me at various stages to keep me going; 2 of them had only planned to a 1 lap each but both ended up running a half-marathon. At the end of each lap I quickly stuck my head in a dustbin of luke-warm water to try and cool down, drank as much water as I could and gobbled up a handful of Jelly Babies. After 5 laps I was starting to really regret the whole venture, and by lap 9....something about mind over matter. Thanks to the motivational runners with me I crossed the finish line in 3 hours 59 minute....not nearly my best, but thats utterly irrelevant.
I've attached a few 'proof' photos on the left side of this webpage. Hopefully there will be a short film clip up on YouTube shortly.
If you can help me raise this total, albeit retrospectively now that the marathon is done and dusted, please could I ask you donate using this JustGiving website; it’s a very simple, fast and totally secure process. Once you donate, the money gets sent directly to The Army Benevolent Fund and Gift Aid is reclaimed on behalf of the charity (UK taxpayers only).
Thank you very much for your kind support.
Major Tom Perkins
Chief of Staff - 1 SCOTS Battle Group
Op HERRICK 12
Helmand Province, Afghanistan