The Royal Marines Association produces the first calendar to feature wounded and injured servicemen from the British Armed Forces.
Triple amputee and former Royal Marine, Mark Ormrod, has teamed up with The Royal Marines Association to produce the first British calendar featuring injured servicemen.
The calendar, which features 12 injured Royal Marines, has been commissioned to raise funds for a new trading company to be managed entirely by the wounded for the wounded. Here they will be given the opportunity to learn new business skills in an environment where they feel comfortable and at home until they are ready to enter the transition into civilian life.
The calendar features a different servicemen representing each month, outside a number of iconic landmarks in the South West.
Mark Ormrod, who lost both of his legs and his right arm whilst serving in Afghanistan, now works for the ‘RMA’ and is based at, Hasler Company. The unit, which is based in Plymouth, is specifically designed to help aid the recovery, rehabilitation and re-integration of injured Royal Marines.
Mark commented ” This was a really interesting project because nothing has ever been done like this before, so it was a bit of of a risk! However, the feedback from the British public has been overwhelming and we have had so many positive comments from all over the country. With all the current doom and gloom going on in the world, It was always the intention to make the calendar uplifting and inspiring, focussing on the positives instead of the negatives and I think all these images really reflect this message.”
Photographer Mike Alsford, who was challenged with the task of bringing the calendar to life, commented’ It was a real challenge as each Marine had a different injury or illness, so it was my job to capture their story in an uplifting manner.”
Other Marines featured in the calendar include; Joe Townsend who lost both of his legs in a Taliban bomb, Johnny Linaker who was involved in an I.E.D strike and Vince Manley, who lost both his legs in Iraq.
The Hasler Calendar is priced at £9.99 and can be purchased from www.rmacalendar.co.uk
All the money raised from the sale of this calendar will go directly towards The Royal Marines Association.
