27 September 2010
Support Our Serving Soldiers Undertaking a Mammoth Challenge to Raise Funds for The Royal Star & Garter Homes
A team of 14 Serving Soldiers from the Unified System Support Organisation (USSO, predominantly Royal Signals) will undertake a 96 mile walk in full military kit across the WEST HIGHLAND WAY from Mingalvie to Fort William to raise funds for The Royal Star & Garter Homes for disabled ex-Service men and women. What's more they plan to do it in just 5 days - that's almost the equivalent of a marathon a day - carrying 55lbs backpacks and in full military kit!
The USSO is a multi-cap badged organisation responsible for providing in-depth technical support to deployed Military Communications Systems worldwide.
"The team will split into 2 groups of 7 and set off each day one hour after the other," explains Dougy Hayward, Regimental Sergeant Major, USSO. "Our route passes through a number of towns and villages along the way and we hope local residents will see us en route and give us a cheer to keep us going! We hope to raise much needed funds for the disabled ex-Service residents at The Royal Star & Garter Homes and would appreciate any donations people are able to give."
"We are delighted that the soldiers from USSO have taken time out from their extremely important work to undertake this gruelling expedition to raise funds for our disabled ex-Service residents," said Mike Barter, Chief Executive, The Royal Star & Garter Homes. "We wish the team the best of luck and look forward to hearing all about their progress."
THE ROUTE
START: Monday 27th September: Mingalvie - Carbeth - Drymen - Balmaha
Tuesday 28th September: Balmaha - Rowardennan - Inversnaid - Inverarnan
Wednesday 29th September: Inverarnan - Crianlarich - Tyndrum - Bridge of Orchy
Thursday 30th September: Bridge of Orchy - Inverornan - Kings House - Kinlochleven
Friday 1st October: Kinlochleven - Fort William FINISH!
Please support their efforts and help them raise much needed funds for disabled ex-service men and women cared for by The Royal Star & Garter Homes. You can donate by visiting www.justgiving.com/USSOwesthighlandway or call our donation hotline on 0845 3707 500 quoting USSO Expedition. You can follow their progress on www.facebook.com/ www.facebook.com/starandgarter
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About The Royal Star & Garter Charity - founded in 1916.
The Royal Star & Garter Charity has been caring for disabled ex-Service personnel since 1916. The Charity offers its residents the best in nursing and therapeutic care, as well as a wide variety of leisure activities both internally and at outside venues. Anyone who is physically disabled or incapacitated and has served in Her Majesty's Forces is eligible to apply for a place at a Royal Star & Garter Home, as well as the widows, spouses and partners of ex-Service people.
The Royal Star & Garter Charity is planning to build new homes to provide care for disabled ex-Service people in the best modern surroundings. The first of these prestigious new homes is the award winning Solihull Home in the West Midlands, which also includes a specialist dementia care wing. The state-of-the-art facilities, which will be emulated in the other new homes, have also enabled the Charity to offer interim care for young disabled Service personnel, and will ensure that the best care will be available to all who may need it now and in the years to come.