Bernie's 1000km Ski Challenge for RM Heroes

Good friend of TrainingBible Bernie Shrosbree is going on an Exped!

Ex TUSEN TAKK (Norwegian for a Thousand Thanks) is an expedition taking place in Norway between 21 Mar and 10 Apr 2010.

A team of 10 Royal Marines will ski 1000km through the Rondane, Douvrefjell, Jotunheimen and Hardangervidda covering an average of 50km a day for 20 consecutive days. It is equivalent to 1 and a third marathons on skis a day and an overall height gain exceeding an ascent of Mt. Everest.

The team will consist of 5 experienced skiers, aged between 47 and 50, some veterans of the Falklands, with 5 younger skiers, most veterans of Afghanistan, from 45 Commando RM and the Brigade Recce Force; the old guard handing over to the new guard so to speak. We will be joined by former Royal Marine Bernie Shrosbree and potentially an adventurer/reporter.

The route will take in areas of military significance in Southern Norway, to include: remote war grave locations; areas of wartime activity; and locations of Royal Marine winter deployment fatalities. The final 250km will follow the route taken by the Heroes of Telemark – “The Saboteurs’ Route” - on Operation Gunnerside where British-trained Norwegian commandos succeeded at destroying the heavy water production facility near Rjukan, dubbed by the British SOE as one of the most successful acts of sabotage in World War II. This wartime act was made famous by the film Heroes of Telemark staring Kirk Douglas and will be the culmination of the expedition.

The aim along the way will be to raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund, which is struggling to generate funds, particularly in light of the success of other military focused charities. Whilst we would not wish to detract from the work these other charities do, we feel it is important to support our “Corps Family” fund which is there to support us all in our time of need. Secondly, a number of the team have been directly affected by cancer; my (Lt Col Gary Green) wife Dionne passed away on 30 Sep, Major Willie Hannah’s son Billy is in remission following treatment for Leukaemia and Col Jim Hutton’s wife is currently fighting ovarian cancer. The parents of other skiers have also died fighting this dreadful disease. So we will also try to raise some money for cancer charities Macmillan and CLIC Sargent.

We will also take with us the Baton see www.thebaton.co.uk and you will be able to watch our endeavours by logging onto www.rm1000kmski.com. In the meantime, if you would like to help us help others you can make a donation at www.bmycharity.com/rm1000kmski

Thanks for your Support