Royal Marine WAGS Team Essence
                          HELPING OUR HEROES
                              In Loving Memory of
                              Marine Jamie Hutton
                           Trooper Robert Pearson
                   And Every Other True British Hero

Thank you for visiting our Fundraising Page. xxx

You will probably be most familiar with the term WAGs from the celebrity culture of footballers and their other halves.  But there are many types of WAGs, and we are Royal Marine WAGs, who want to Help Our Heroes. 

Last year on 13th October, a team of 6 Royal Marine Wives and Girlfriends took on the 3 mile Royal Marine Commando Challenge.  It was exhausting, emotional, cold, wet and sooo unbelievably muddy, but totally inspiring.  It gave us so much more appreciation for what our other halves have conquered, and a new kind of respect for every member of Britain’s Armed Forces.  So with this in mind, this year we are upping our game, and on Sunday 12^th October at precisely 14:32, a courageous, passionate team of 23 Royal Marine Wives, Girlfriends and Fiancés will once again be getting cold, wet, muddy and exhausted, taking on GRUELLING 7 MILE CHALLENGE to raise money for the fantastic charity that is HELP for HEROES.

About the Commando Challenge:

The Royal Marine Commando Challenge is the civilian fundraising version of the Royal Marines Endurance Course - one of the four punishing Commando tests each recruit must endure to complete their training.  It has been recognised internationally as part of one of the toughest military training regimes in the world, and was recently featured on Gordon Ramsay's 'F Word'.  To get an idea of how tough this really is going to be for us, please visit this link and skip to 5 minutes in to watch Gordon Ramsay do the course.  Please also be aware that the video does contain some bad language.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpXZdSA8Y8c

There are two different Commando Challenges held on consecutive days - the 3 miler fun challenge, and then the 7 miler endurance challenge held on the second day.  We will be taking part in the 7 miler.  To start we will have a two mile run (mostly uphill) to the course, then we will have to endure 3 miles of FULLY submerged tunnels (which by 15:00 on Sunday will be unspeakably foul), pitch black winding tunnels over ground which will literally rip your knees to shreds, bogs which will happily steal your trainers if you haven't done them up so tight you lose the circulation to your feet, near vertical rocky gorges where it is more than easy to lose your footing, mud pits up to your shoulders, so called 'smartie tubes' which are essentially half submerged tunnels you can barely crawl through, and a pleasant little stream that the on-course Marines will ensure you crawl through.  Not to mention the black bog that if you slip over will completely steal your identity, the FREEZING cold chest deep pool of water you must wade through, and the fact that the entire course is located on Woodbury Common which is 99.9% hills and moor-like terrain.  We can tell you from experience, you can forget about Glastonbury , this is the most horrendous mud you will ever see.  Oh yes, and I forgot to say.....after we have completed all of that, we then have another 2 mile run back to the finish, in our cold, water-logged clothes!!

The 'RMCC' has been running since November 1990 raising money for mainly local charities in Devon, and has evolved massively from the first ever event which consisted of 80 participants and raised £3,000, to its latest event which consisted of around 4,000 participants and raised in the region of £180,000.  You can find out more about the Commando Challenge by visiting their official website:  www.commandochallenge.co.uk

Meet The Team:

Gen Odoni - One of the youngest team members at 19, and one of the most unfit!  Gen's fiancé is currently on his first tour of duty in Afghanistan and will be there at the time of the challenge.  She is doing it to make him proud, even though she may have to be carried across the finish line!!

Laura (Makin) Winter - Proud other half of a Marine who has seen 6 tours of duty, she has recently given birth to their first son, Aidan on 08.08.08!  Laura completed the 3 miler last year and wants raise her game this year and finish the 7 miler. Laura is a bit of a dark horse and is not afraid of a challenge, with London Marathon under her belt she has also walked on hot coal and snapped an arrow on her neck! She knows the first words out of her other half's mouth will be "Well you weren't wearing webbing, 22 pounds of kit and carrying a rifle!"

Lynne Murray - The most Northern member of the team!!  This fun loving Geordies other half is also away in Afghanistan and will be away at the time of the challenge, but that won’t stop her!!

Katie White - Having recently joined the police force Katie is probably the fittest member of our team - ironic as she used to taste cider for a living!!  Her Marine, who is currently in Afghanistan, is also member of the Royal Military Police, so the rest of us had better be on our best behaviour!!

Sarah Tyler - Married to a Marine for 2 years, this WAG keeps scaring us with her amazing fitness and training routines, she will be sat around for hours, showered with a coffee waiting for the rest of us to finish!!

Charlotte Herd Smith -  Charl is a fashion graduate from London. This July, her ex-boyfriend Marine Jamie Hutton was tragically killed in a training accident while preparing for his deployment to Afghanistan with 42 Commando in September.  She decided to do the challenge after losing Jamie, to prove to him that she can do it, after much banter between the two of them about Charl being a 'beefer'!!  Jamie's dad, Colonel Hutton of the Royal Marines, also thinks Charl is too precious to get muddy - but he's about to be proven wrong!  'I am doing this for his family, and because I love you girls for all we've been through together'.  Good luck Charl hun, we are all so proud of you and love u so much xxx

Stephanie Smith - Another Northerner and a midwife, Steph already has her hand in fundraising, organising a Memorial Day for her friend Trooper Robert Pearson from the Queen's Royal Lancers Regiment, who sadly lost his life this April in Afghanistan.  Her other half is also away in Afghanistan. It's things like this that reminds you why we are raising money for this charity.  Steph is one of our most committed team members.

Vicki Waller

Chloe Francis - Mum of two and a model, Chloe has just got her hubby home from Afghanistan and will put us to shame when we have to undress for the showers after the challenge!!

Mychelle Maddock - This nail technician, beauty therapist and Schwarzkopf Rep who has also just got her fiancé home from Afghanistan, will be repairing our nails for weeks after our encounter with the mud pits!!

Jenni Smart - Mum of two, and another WAG who has just got her Marine home from Afghanistan, we think 'princess' Smart who got married in pink will have a bit of a shock when she sees the muddy course!!

Stacey Smart - A cracking Yorkshire lass, always good for a laugh, Stacey will be a large part of our moral on the day.  Her other half will also be away in Afghanistan for the challenge.  She plans on sending her muddy t-shirt out to him as proof!!

Kelly Hammond

Tara Jayne - Still unhappy that she let Gen talk her into this, it’s quite possible that Tara will also need to be dragged across the finish line!!  Her fiancé will be serving a particularly difficult 9 month tour of Iraq at the time of the challenge, hopefully the photos of her caked in mud will put a smile on his face while he's away hehe.

Carly Smith - Another Welsh WAG, Carlys Marine boyfriend of 2 and half years has just returned from a 6 month tour of Afghanistan. She's a bit of a last minute recruit so will have to cram her "training" in to 3 weeks but we know she will do her best!  She aims to prove to her Marine and others that she's tougher than she looks, and that she CAN go at least one day without without make up and hair straighteners, especially as she will be getting the ultimate mud pack!

Chantelle Stokes - Married to her Marine nearly two years and mum of two, it was clear from the start that nothing was going to stop Tell doing the challenge.  Let’s just hope her other half who is a member of the training team at Commando Training Centre Royal Marines doesn’t try and prepare her for it too harshly, although I think she may have got away with it as he is also on his first deployment to Afghanistan.

Sophie Grant - Recent mum of one and with her other half currently deployed in Afghanistan, Soph will have her hands full come October, but she is determined to do the challenge and we admire her for it.

Adele Hegarty - One of our Welsh WAGs and mum of one, Adele's other half is just back from Afghanistan where he did some cracking fundraising for us!  We fear that the new trainers he sent Adele for training will eventually end up in a bog, though between now and then she is using them to attend the gym a little too often for the rest of the team's liking!!

Lorna Butler - Recent mum of one, Lorna, like Tara, is still very unhappy that she has let Gen talk her into doing the challenge!!  She's more of a cosy gym person who doesn't really 'do' exercising outdoors and is terrified bless her of the small, cold, dark wet tunnels that await her on the course as she is incredibly claustrophobic. However, after 2 months of Gen pestering her she decided to do the challenge and fight her fears because her Marine who she has been with for 7 years, was quite badly injured during his last tour of Afghanistan, and she has seen first hand how amazing Headley Court really is and what Help for Heroes is all about.  Baby Maya is so proud of her mum that even though she is only a few months old she has managed to sponsor us £10!!  Thanks Maya, and good effort Lorna!!

Melanie Storey-Slinger - Coming from Leeds, and aged 32, this mum of two beautiful girls who has been married to her Marine for 4 years, is the eldest member of our team.  Mel is excited about the challenge but at the same time - scared to death!! Her Hubby is also Afghanistan.

Some Last Minute Additions For Jamie:

Sandra Smith - Charlotte's lovely mum has now joined us!!  She is also doing this for Jamie along side Char.

Pat Taylor - Pat met Jamie in September 2004 when they both arrived in Naples. Her son Sam and Jamie became the very best of friends, and Jamie spent many hours at their house and with Pat's family both in Naples, and then back in Devon once their postings were over. He was her surrogate son, and she is doing the challenge for him and his family.

Amanda Stretton

A Bit About Us:

Your probably thinking we're a bit of a mixed bunch, and you would be right, we are.  Ageing from 18 - 32, we're coming from across the country:  Leeds, Wales, Newcastle, Barnstaple, Portsmouth, London, Plymouth, The West Midlands, Bournemouth, Exmouth, Taunton, Sheffield, Somerset, Grimsby, the list goes on.  Some of us have never even met. 

The reason we are such an odd group of ladies is because we all found each other by sheer luck through Facebook, after stumbling across a support group for girls with Royal Marine other halves.  Having a Military relationship can be so so lonely, isolating, and sometimes terrifying.  It has its good times, but goodness me it has ALOT of bad times too, and going through them on your own is just miserable and can make you utterly despondent.  Friends and family can try and help, but sadly unless they have been through it themselves they cannot possibly begin to understand what it is like.  This is why these girls are so special.  We offer unconditional support and friendship for each other, no matter what time of day or night, regardless of the fact that like I said, most of us have never met in person.  Having someone to talk to who understands and can even offer you advice makes such a difference, and makes the bad times bearable.  We have made some absolutely amazing and life long friends, and stick together to support each other and our other halves wholeheartedly. 

The Commando Challenge is a particularly special event for us to take part in because it is essentially what brought us together in the first place; our other halves and the Royal Marines.  We love our men, and want to make them proud of us, but at the same time, we want to show how proud we are of them and what they do.  The British Armed Forces are some of the best in the world; we have the utmost respect for them all and know that they deserve better.  This is why we are taking part in the challenge together and raising money for HELP for HEROES.

In Loving Memory Of:

We are running the challenge in loving memory of two fantastic soldiers who are very close to our hearts.

Marine Jamie Hutton - Jamie Robert John Hutton, x-boyfriend of our team member Charlotte, was tragically killed this July at Lulworth Firing Range, Dorset, when the WMIK vehicle he was in overturned during a training exercise 42 Commando Recce Troop were taking part in, in preparation for their deployment to Afghanistan in September.  Chal wants to do the challenge for him, and we are so proud of her bravery we have decided to do it in his memory.

His family issued a statement, which read: “Our lovely lad, full of the joys of life, irrepressibly vibrant, kindness personified and friend to all has gone – but he will never be forgotten.  He was a proud Marine, hard as nails but with a soft heart; we all wanted a part of him, and he gave it gladly. We have shed many a tear since his passing but we see and hear him everywhere.  He touched so many people and we are all glad for that. See ya pal.”

If you would like to read more about Jamie please take a look at these articles:
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Tributes-training-tragedy-Marine
http://www.thisisdevon.co.uk/news/Brigadier-pays-moving-tribute-Marine-son

Trooper Robert Pearson - Robert "Chesney" Pearson of the Queens Royal Lancers was tragically killed in Afghanistan this April when the vehicle he was driving with the Armoured Support Company Royal Marines was hit by a suspected mine while providing security to a resupply convoy that was returning to Camp Bastion.  He was a great friend to our team member Steph, and introduced her to her Marine boyfriend Ollie.

His friend Lance Corporal "Fed" Baldwin of A Squadron, Queen's Royal Lancers, said: "He always had a word to say and a strong opinion. He kept his head low when he got to the Regiment and soon earned a good reputation as a hard worker. 'Chesney' had a tough year with his Mother passing away, but he soon picked himself up and returned to work back to his normal self. In my eyes for that he has my utmost respect for his integrity and strength.  He will be sorely missed by myself and all of The Queen's Royal Lancers, in particular 1 Troop, A Squadron with whom he spent the last year of his life working. 'Chesney', rest in peace mate, wherever your soul may lay."

If you would like to read more about Rob please take a look at this article:
http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/trooperrobertpearson
Or his fundraising page:  http://www.justgiving.com/grimsby_wagamads

About The Charity:

HELP for HEROES is an amazing charity that does exactly what it says on the tin - helps our wounded.  As you have probably gathered by now, our men are away frequently for long periods in dangerous places, and like any military family or OH, we have all had to think about what would happen if our partners were to be injured or worse in action while serving their country.  It is a scary thought, and one we don't like to think about often, but it is of great comfort to us knowing that if the unthinkable were to happen, fantastic organisations such as Help for Heroes would be there to give our other halves the best care possible.  They help our injured heroes by supporting them through various stages of medical treatments, rehab, physiotherapy, and help to provide them with opportunities that will enable them to rebuild their lives, become as independent as possible and hopefully fulfil their potential again.

Help for Heroes was the idea of Appeal Chairman Bryn Parry and a group of friends and relations, many of who have connections with serving servicemen and women. Bryn and his wife Emma wanted to do something to help the wounded and came up with the idea of a sponsored bike ride. They mentioned it to some friends who mentioned it to some more friends and suddenly HELP for HEROES was born and growing fast. A flurry of visits to various offices led to the campaign being blessed by the head of the army, Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt.  HELP for HEROES is backed by the Army Benevolent Fund, the Army’s own charity that does wonderful work for soldiers and other servicemen and women both directly and through its support of other service charities.

"Help for Heroes is an amazing charity with a goal of raising £6m to build a state of the art swimming pool and gym at Headley Court Rehabilitation Centre for our wounded servicemen and women. Money raised from the Commando Challenge will push the appeal nearer its goal and get the building work started earlier than we hoped. Fit or not, bring out your running shoes and sign up to the Commando Challenge"  Jeremy Clarkson.

You can find out more about this fantastic charity by visiting their website:  www.helpforheroes.org.uk
and by viewing the video posted on this fundraising page.

PLEASE HELP US HELP OUR HEROES AND THE HEROES OF THIS COUNTRY BY SPONSORING US NOW!!

Thank you so much for visiting our fundraising page and sponsoring us xxx

Kindest Regards and Best Wishes to you all,
Thank you again.

Team Essence xxx

Latest News:

OVER £6000 RAISED!!  OH MY GOODNESS THAT IS FANTASTIC NEWS!! Thanks so much to EVERYONE for helping us smash our target!! Lets keep going and see how much more we can get!! PLEASE KEEP GOING EVERYONE AND THANK YOU!!
We have been featured on the Naval Families Federation website - http://www.nff.org.uk/
There has been an article written about us in the South Devon newspaper The Herald Express - http://www.thisissouthdevon.co.uk/news/Girls-fight-men
There has been an article written about us in the South Devon newspaper The Plymouth Herald - http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news/Marine-WAGS-prepare-muddy-feat
There has been an article written about us in the South Devon newspaper The Totnes Times.
There has been an article written about us in the Scottish newspaper The Guide & Gazette - www.guideandgazette.co.uk/news/ENDURANCE-TEST
And Help for Heroes themselves have given us a link on their website!! - http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/latest_news.html
Our Welsh Team members Adele and Carly have been fundraising at Tesco in Cardiff and raised a WHOPPING £737.60!!! Oh wow we are so proud of you girls!!
And THEN the lovely Welsh ladies managed to get themselves in The South Wales Echo Newspaper!! - www.walesonline.co.uk/news/marine-wags-commando-challenge

Mel also raised a MASSIVE £607.13!!! Well done babe great effort!!

Big thanks to everyone!! XxXxX Team Essence XxXxX