7 members of HMS Kent's Royal Marines Boarding Team are currently deployed to the Indian Ocean to conduct Maritime Interdiction Operations in support of the Royal Navy’s efforts against narcotics smugglers and piracy in the region. Whilst deployed for 6 months they hope to support two special charities by completing a gruelling series of physical challenges. 

 

The two charities close to the team’s hearts are the CLAN, an independent charity for anyone, of any age, affected by any type of cancer, and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, who support serving and former Royal Marines and their families; particular pertinent as 40 Commando Royal Marines have just returned from Afghanistan as the last Royal Marines unit to deploy there after over ten years of sustained conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

The phys challenges the team will complete in 4 consecutive days consist of the following:

 

1.  Day 1: An individual ‘ship marathon’: run by each member of the team (183 laps of the ship).

 

2.  Day 2: An individual ‘tank bench press’: each team member will complete 1250 reps of a 50kg barbell to achieve an accumulative press of 62,500 Kg (the weight of a Challenger 2 tank).

 

3.  Day 3: A team ’24-hour cycle’: the team of 7 will keep 3 static exercise bikes going for 24 hours without one of the 3 bikes stopping.

 

4.  Day 4: ‘Team Mount Everest Rope Climb’: Each member of the team to complete 277 rope climbs to achieve an accumulative climb equivalent to the height of Mount Everest.

 

Marine Craig was inspired by a family friend who has recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. This incredible challenge aims to raise awareness for the chosen charities whilst raising as much money as possible with your help. Unfortunately, the money cannot be split down the middle automatically so we ask that any donations be divided equally between both CLAN and RMCTF by donating half to each using the links provided. Thank you so much.

Any donation, however small, will be greatly appreciated so let’s get behind the lads and their challenge!