FOUR Royal Air Force Police personnel currently deployed in the Middle East have successfully completed a 150 mile ultra marathon, raising money for the service charity Scotty’s Little Soldiers in the process.
Running as a team the individual distances ran were combined to achieve the 150 miles. The run lasted for 12 hours with the team running overnight starting at 8.00 pm in the evening, local time, and finishing at 8.00am the following morning, to avoid the desert heat.
The senior deployed officer overseeing RAF Operations in the Middle East, Group Captain Martin Higgins, said: “I’m really proud of the team. Their event reminds us of the hard work, determination, and teamwork that takes place all round the Joint Operations Area. Having seen the team return to work with no real aches and pains, there is no doubting their resilience!”
To complete the challenge the runners were joined by a support team that monitored the team throughout and ensured they were hydrated and fuelled to complete the challenge. During the run other deployed personnel also joined the run as encouragement with several running the last five miles.
Sergeant Jack Cowen, the RAF deployed medic and one of the support team said: “This was a significant challenge, and it was my role to monitor the runs to ensure that the challenge was completed in a safe way. I was also able to encourage then throughout and congratulate them all on a great achievement in completing the challenge”.
The team originally organised the event to test their resilience and team building skills while deployed and then realised that they could utilise the event for fund raising as well.
The runners have chosen to raise money for Scotty's Little Soldiers, who provide support to bereaved military children who have experienced the death of a parent who has served in the Armed Forces. To date over £1100 has been raised, but further donations can be made to recognise the team’s efforts via the ‘Just Giving’ website site at: RAF Police Ultra Run is fundraising for Scotty's Little Soldiers
