ANYONE can show their support for the brave boys from 40 Commando Royal Marines by joining them in a fundraising challenge in July.

A team of Commandos who are recovering from injury are rowing the 150 miles of the Thames from July 10 to 14 – and here are three reasons why you should ‘join’ them:

  • Show your support for their bravery
  • Take up a physical challenge and boost your health
  • Raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund To get involved you don’t have to go to London and you don’t even have to get in a boat.

Organisers are asking schools, businesses, sports clubs, gyms and individuals to carry out a sponsored cycle, run, walk, swim or row on a rowing machine of any length around the time of the challenge.

Among those to show their support already were 320 children who took part in a race against the Royal Marines at their Norton Manor Camp base organised by the Tone Schools Sports Partnership.

Collectively the children all rowed more than the length of the Thames.

One of the organisers, Steve Swan, who rowed the Thames back in 2009, said: “You should have heard the cheer when they knew they had beaten the Marines!”

Most of the crew sustained their injuries while on service in Afghanistan and the challenge is part of the rehabilitation.

For more information, email Steve Swan at stevesrow@tiscali.co.uk or call 01823-672102.

You can also help without lifting a finger – well, just one in actual fact. If you’d like to sponsor the crew, donate by clicking on the Related Link below.

You can also get more information and download a fundraising pack by clicking on the Related Links below.

Readers of the County Gazette have been showing their support for the Royal Marines by displaying our Shoulder to Shoulder posters – so here’s another way to come on board!