Why are cancer rates rising?
Eat, sleep, row, repeat… Could you row continuously for 53 days, 9 hours and 30 minutes?
Cracking Cancer’s Code – how bioinformatics is transforming our understanding of cancer
“Surviving the Yomp” – You are 21 miles in. Your feet are throbbing and your shoulders burning.
Invitation to an evening of “Technology beats Cancer” on Tuesday 14th May 2013
Looking forward to seeing every one a week on Tuesday.
Worth watching this inspirational link – LEADERS CHANGING THE WORLD NO 3: TIM THORNE
http://www.iconicthinking.com/blog/leaders-changing-the-world-no-3-tim-thorne.aspx
Invitation to an evening of “Technology beats Cancer” on Tuesday 14th May 2013
Last year I joined the Catalyst Club, part of Cancer Research UK, to help transform the future of cancer treatment with the question how do you beat cancer and get a life-saving return on your charitable donation?
Continue reading “Invitation to an evening of “Technology beats Cancer” on Tuesday 14th May 2013”
Mission Complete – Thank you for caring and making a real difference
Thank You for caring and making a real difference. Six Months ago on Monday 3rd September 2012 I took the leap and took on the Descent the Shard. Why, to raise serious amounts of money for charity, and to push myself way outside of my comfort zone.
Continue reading “Mission Complete – Thank you for caring and making a real difference”
Mission Complete – This year I am “Surviving the Yomp”
Thank You for caring and making a real difference. Twelve Months ago on Monday 3rd September 2012 I took the leap and took on the Descent the Shard. Why, to raise serious amounts of money for charity, and to push myself way outside of my comfort zone.
This year I am “Surviving the Yomp” – the challenge –
You are 21 miles in. Your feet are throbbing and your shoulders burning. Your brain is telling you to stop and rest but you know you must dig deep and carry on. Every Royal Marine has to have reserves of physical and mental strength to complete the Yomp, the 30 mile final test in their gruelling training to gain their green beret.
Am I tough enough to Survive The Yomp and raise serious sums for Royal Marines in need? Please sponsor me http://www.justgiving.com/Rob-Gardner8.
Watch my short video of the Descent of the Shard to see the build-up, the descent and the incredible views of London from the top!
Commando Spirit’s mission is to raise £1million by 2014 for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF). As a result of everyone’s generous support and donations we managed to raise £25,532 in sponsorship which ended up helping raise a total of more than £400,000 and a grand total of funds raised so far since 2011 (including Escape the Dunker) of £653,491. The RMCTF exists to provide benevolence support to bereaved widows and families, serving and retired Royal Marines and their dependants, and also to underpin morale, efficiency and spirit de corps. With the continuing toll of casualties arising from operations in Afghanistan, the work of RMCTF in supporting our wounded on the Recovery Pathway is more than ever. Raising £25,532 was no easy feat. It involved
- Several blogs
- Hundreds of tweets, facebook posts, LinkedIn updates
- Thousands of emails
- And persistent, continuous, asking in face-to-face meetings over several months
For those of you interested in the fundraising statistics – I had 365 JustGiving donations and several cheques which resulted in an average of just over £65 per person – A truly remarkable achievement. Thank you again for caring and making a real difference.
#RIP – Jeremy Paxton the spirit of adventure!
On a sad note my good friend and fellow descendant and shardist Jeremy Michael Paxton (1960-2013) passed away last month. Jeremy was a truly remarkable man who touched all of our hearts and changed our lives forever. Jeremy’s death has reminded me of the importance of living each day to the full, and to quote Abraham Lincoln “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
Commando Spirit – Nothing Impossible!
As you heard last week at the mallowstreet exchange I have volunteered to take on a challenge of a lifetime and face the formidable “Dunker” this September – A terrifying underwater escape exercise all Royal Marines face as part of their arduous training to gain their green beret.
I am asking you to do one or both of the following to support me and Commando Spirit in my efforts:
- Donate Now. Visit my JustGiving page and make a (very) generous donation towards my £10,000 fund raising target and the Commando Spirit Series’ mission to help raise £6m by 2014 in order to help the Royal Marines in their time of need.
- Escape the dunker with me at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton on Saturday the 17th September and help raise even more money to support our Royal Marines and their families in need. Register at Commando Spirit.
- Excellent news – Mark Rowlinson (@markjrowlinson) has agreed to Escape the Dunker and I know a few others were very keen to join the action.
- A few photos taken by Bob Owen – Royal Marine photographer – http://on.fb.me/jK0j5d
So what will I be doing in September 2011?
Well, I will be trained at the Underwater Escape Training Unit and then I will be strapped into a fuselage and required to escape from a somewhat frighteningly realistic simulation of a helicopter crash at sea, in the dark, upside down, using the correct procedure. I’ve been assured it does not take physical strength – what it tests is courage, determination, fortitude and teamwork, as well as the ability to follow instructions and stay calm!
As Commando Spirit Ambassador and former Royal Marine says:
“I vividly recall my first experience in the dunker – my racing heartbeat and clammy palms as the waters rose around me. Although 100% safe it is nonetheless a great test of mettle, and a life enhancing experience for those who take part. You’ll turn up trembling and swagger out beaming, ready to take on the world”
Why the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund?
The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund helps Royal Marines and their families when they need it most.
- They aid the wounded and injured.
- They give quality of life to those returning from operations.
- And when the worst happens, they support the families of those who die in service.
The RMCTF has the widest purposes of almost any service charity – quite simply, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund will help when others cannot.
Fund Raising 2011 – Nothing Impossible!
As you probably know I have taken on the challenge of raising £10,000 for the Royal Marines– a terrifying exercise all Royal Marines face as part of their arduous training to gain their green beret is the Dunker – a terrifyingly realistic simulation of a helicopter crash at sea, from which they must escape. For 2011, I will get the chance to experience the Dunker be tested against this ultimate challenge whilst helping Commando Spirit to raise £1million for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, which supports serving and former Royal Marines and their families. The Royal Marines have suffered more casualties than any other group in Afghanistan and over the next 18 months over 75% of the serving Corps will be deployed, the largest percentage in its history.
Why the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund?
The Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund helps Royal Marines and their families when they need it most. They aid the wounded and injured. They give quality of life to those returning from operations. And when the worst happens, they support the families of those who die in service. The RMCTF has the widest purposes of almost any service charity – quite simply, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund will help when others cannot.
Please support me in my fundraising by donating at my Just Giving Page.
Many thanks from me, Commando Spirit and the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.
Rob