Thank you for visiting my fundraising page.

On Sunday, 12th October, I will be taking part in the Commando Challenge as part of "Team Essence", to raise money for "Help for Heroes" in memory of Jamie Hutton, a young marine who 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. 

Jamie was the eldest son of Brigadier RM Jim and Sally Hutton our neighbours in Naples until recently.  They have wriiten this about him: “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

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!!

You can find out more about the Commando Challenge by visiting their official website:  www.commandochallenge.co.uk

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