Soldiers from 29 EOD & Search Group have been invited by the Allied Forces Foundation (AFF) - www.alliedforcesfoundation.org - to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington DC on the 28th October 2012. We are entering three 5-man teams into the event with the primary aim of raising funds for the bomb disposal charity, The Felix Fund - www.felixfund.org.uk. Our secondary aim is to raise awareness of the plight of those soldiers who have been wounded in the course of their bomb disposal duties, and their families too. Some of these wounded soldiers will be aiming to compete in the marathon itself.

The key feature of our fundraising is that one of our team, Major Iain Church, is aiming to break the Guinness world record for the fastest marathon wearing a protective bomb disposal suit weighing 75lb (see photos). The current world record stands at 7hr 6mins 37secs!!

Our 3 teams are as follows:

HQ 29 EOD and Search Group Team: Captain Nigel Marsh, Colonel Peter Smith QGM, Major Iain Church, Captain Mark Dingle, Captain Jo Marples, Lance Corporal Becky Mercer.

33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) Team: Captain Andy Perks, Sergeant Liam Payne, Lance Corporal Graeme Wallace, Captain James Kelly, Major Simon Oats, Sapper Richard Murray, Lance Corporal Tim Jones.

101 Engineer Regiment (EOD) Team: Captain Stef Siemieniuch, Captain Aaron Florence, Sergeant Gerald Cooper, Corporal Alipate Pareti, Sapper Alex MacMurray, Lance Corporal Stephen Harle.

Following this event, Captain Nigel Marsh RE & Captain Mark Dingle RE of the HQ 29 EOD and Search Group team will be participating in the New York City Marathon just 1 week later.

29 EOD and Search Group is the British Army unit responsible for conducting Bomb Disposal and High Risk Search tasks in the UK and on operations overseas.

Please take the time to make a donation and show your appreciation for our endeavours and help raise money for a really worthwhile cause. Please also be specific in any message you leave, indicating which individual soldier or team you may be donating in support of. This will allow us to keep track of our fundraising efforts.

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So please dig deep and donate now.