*Sal completed Fan Dance on 26/6/21**

My name is Salahudeen Hussain (Sal). I am a Cadet Lance Corporal in the Royal Marines Cadets (RMC), Sheffield detachment. We are part of X-ray Company and the RMC is a part of the Sea Cadet Corps charity. I am 15 years old and studying to take my GCSEs in 2021. I aspire to read Medicine at university and become an officer in the Royal Marines.

I will be doing The Fan Dance on 26th September 2020 to raise money for my detachment and The Special Boat Service Association (SBSA). Every penny will go to them as my dad will pay the admin costs.

Sheffield detachment is a long standing and proud one. We have represented our company twice at the Gibraltar Cup and came first in the 2019 company CATSEA (Company Annual Training & Safety Efficiency Appraisal). We train at the Falklands Training Centre in Sheffield and have forged strong links with the Islands.

We have lots of cadets, a multitude of dedicated staff and an abundance of enthusiasm. Unfortunately we are in desperate need of kit to allow cadets to fully participate in all the activities. Whilst our resourceful detachment sergeant is able to beg, borrow and not exactly steal some, we need much more. The money I raise will be used to purchase equipment including daysacks, burgens, webbing, boots etc. Any money left over will be used to fund trips e.g. we attend the annual parade at the Commando Memorial in Spean Bridge, Scotland. The SBSA describes itself as follows:

"The Special Boat Service Association (SBSA) is a charity that provides an extended welfare system to its members. There are, sadly, a growing number of members and their dependents for whom, through physical or psychological injury, bereavement or adversity, the SBSA now has a responsibility. The SBSA fills a delta of need which, because of the special nature of the people they support, raises that support to a level of the very highest quality which is deemed to be appropriate. Your donations will make a tangible difference to the support given by the SBSA and is much appreciated."

I want to raise money by completing a task that reflects what I want to achieve in the future. The Fan Dance is an integral part of British Special Forces selection. It is a 15 mile load bearing march over Pen-y-Fan in Wales. It is legendary and notorious in equal measure. I will be carrying 35 pounds plus food and water during the event.

I’m very grateful to Jason and Liz at The SF Experience who have allowed me to participate in their event despite my age. They agreed because of what I‘m seeking to achieve and whom I wish to help. They did however say that I must be accompanied by an adult. Fortunately for me my dad said he would do it; unfortunately for him he had a heart attack soon after saying this!

The good news is he's better now and will still be doing the Fan Dance with me!! He wants to support me and show he’s not old and past it :-) The fact we’ll be doing it together, particularly after his ill health, makes it all the more special for me. I just hope we can do it without me having to carry him or having to call in a helicopter to rescue him!

I'd like to especially thank all the veterans and serving personnel who have supported me. In particular I'd like to thank Lt. Col Catton (commanding officer of 45 Commando), Sgt. Colin Maclachlan (ex D Squadron 22 SAS) and the Sergeants' Mess at Hamworthy Barracks

Please donate what you can to help me raise money for two organisations we should all be proud of.

Thank you.