August 2006
OVER £15,000 RAISED ON ROYAL STAR & GARTER CADET CHALLENGE
Forty two cadets, accompanied by nine officers and adult instructors, took part in the Royal Star & Garter Cadet Challenge in July. Now in its 9th year, the Challenge aims to raise funds for, and awareness of, the disabled ex-Service residents of The Royal Star & Garter Home, Richmond. The Challenge took place in the North East of Finland, close to the Russian border. Participants were required to complete100 kilometres trekking along the Bear Trail, which winds its way through forests and canyons in the great Oulanka National Park, and a 25 kilometre canoeing section on the Oulanka river.
Almost all the cadets used the expedition towards gaining a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and were therefore required to navigate through sections off the main track, and carry all their food, tents and other equipment for 6 days in the wilderness.
Cadets taking part this year included pupils from Gordon’s School (CCF) in Woking, and from the Army Cadet Force West Lowland Battalion, Scotland, ACF Kent Outreach, and Dundee School CCF.
Between them the cadets have also raised over £15,000 for the Royal Star & Garter residents. Their fundraising activities included selling 1000 doughnuts, bag packing in supermarkets, holding raffles and quiz evenings, and one brave girl from Gordon’s School – Francesca Ivil – even undertook a tandem skydive at the Hinton Skydiving Centre, raising £965 in sponsorship.
Events Manager for the Royal Star & Garter and Expedition Leader, Alistair Holmes said, “The Challenge is a tough one and the cadets this year did exceptionally well. Although many of them had not met before they all co-operated and supported each other. We were particularly impressed with James Rice from the West Lowland Battalion who overcame some personal difficulties, with the support of his team mates, to complete the challenge.”
As in previous years, the group included cadets who have taken part in the ACFA Outreach Project which aims to help young people who have been in trouble or experienced problems in their lives to get back on track. Representing Outreach this year were Joel Mason and Tom Church from ACF Kent.
Next year it is planned to take the expedition even further North inside the Arctic Circle. For information contact Molly Bootes on 020 8439 8111 or molly.bootes@starandgarter.org
For details of the Duke of Edinburgh requirements call Alistair Holmes on 020 8439 8120 or alistair.holmes@starandgarter.org
About the Royal Star & Garter Charity
The Royal Star & Garter Home, an independent registered charity based in Richmond, has been caring for disabled ex-Service personnel since 1916. The Charity offers the best in nursing and residential care plus a range of therapies. There are also a wide variety of leisure activities available for our residents to enjoy, both inside and outside the Home. In future years, The Royal Star & Garter Charity intends to build new homes, in the Richmond area and elsewhere, in which to provide specialist care for the elderly disabled, and for those with dementia for whom there is very little provision at present.
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FURTHER INFO: Rebecca Spencer, Marketing & Communications Co-ordinator TEL: 020 8439 8118 or EMAIL: rebecca.spencer@starandgarter.org