On Saturday 8 November, 15 Royal Marines Commando Veterans completed their charity yomp from John O’Groats to Lands End in only 7.5 days and finished ahead of schedule, arriving into the most southern point in the UK just as the sun started to set.
Despite each member of the team suffering from a variety of injuries, all completed the challenge and finished strong. This great feat of achievement was only possible with the 24/7 behind the scenes hard work of the 12 strong support crew who kept the team extremely well fed, hydrated, provided navigation, safety vehicles following all runners and overall boosting morale.
Mark Gordon, Project Director has had time to reflect on the experience: “The underlying principles driving this project: Service, Commando Mindset, Importance of Health and Physical Fitness, Family, and the enormous potential of the Veteran Community - not least in support of national security in times of crisis - were demonstrated in abundance.
"The first few days were hampered by very wet Scottish weather; however, the team kept on track and on plan, showing cheerfulness through adversity, fortitude and determination: all demonstrated in our ongoing social media updates. The whole team loved being back in the Corps environment and we all said we have never laughed so much as we did that week since leaving service.”
It is because of this experience that the team are already planning 3 further events next year. There will be a Bootneck Yomp 26 taking place in November, from Lands End to John O’Groats, as well as a battlefield speed-march tour through Belgium and Northern France, plus an endurance heat event around the peninsula of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Mark continued: “The British public have shown huge support for this project since it started; coming out during the day and night to cheer us on, provide sustenance, hospitality, use of facilities, and donations along the route and we are all enormously grateful, quite overwhelmed and looking forward to next year’s challenges already!”
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