Royal Marines abseiled from the roof of the Eden Project’s rainforest biome on Saturday (7th June) as part of their 350th birthday 1664 Challenge.
In 2014 the Corps of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines are celebrating their 350th anniversary. To commemorate this date, Royal Marines Commandos will ski, sail, cycle, canoe and run 6656km, in four 1664km legs over a route covering Norway, Spain, France and the UK. The aim is to encapsulate the Commando spirit and Corps values in a significant physical and mental challenge. Between the 6th and 9th June 2014, 42 Commando completed the route through Devon and Cornwall from Plymouth to Falmouth.
“The 1664 Challenge is an extraordinary event, attempting to raise a huge amount of money for a very deserving cause. The Royal Marines have received a huge amount of support so far from the businesses and people of Cornwall and we hope that the abseil at the Eden Project will raise the profile of this challenge and the need to support wounded Royal Marines and veterans following ten years of intense operational activity,” said Major Baz Lewis, Officer Commanding K Company, who is leading the Plymouth-based 42 Commando’s part of the challenge.
Mne Toby Manning, 24, from Truro, Cornwall, said: “It’s great to see an event like the 1664 Challenge coming to my home town of Truro. This is a huge challenge and a fantastic way to celebrate the 350th Anniversary of the Corps.”
42 Commando are staged ‘Commando Events’ at Lemon Quay, Truro and the National Maritime Museum Cornwall yesterday (Monday) where Commando Display events will be running throughout the afternoon including vehicle, weapon and cookery stances, an unarmed combat display team and a Commando slide and abseil from the Museum roof into the square. Along with music, beer and pasty tents there will be something for all the family to enjoy.
The challenge will raise much needed money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund (RMCTF). The RMCTF is the Royal Marines charity, helping our wounded and injured, particularly those that have been most severely injured, to begin their transition back into civilian life; quite simply, the RMCTF will help when others cannot. The RMCTF will also help those still serving and facing successive tours in high threat environments – providing adventure training for those returning from operations, funding homecoming events, financing memorials and maintaining our heritage.
