Fundraising Stories

100 years, 100 miles, 100km, 100 burpees, 100 press-ups, 100 pictures, 100 smiles, 100 memories, 100 Momos… whatever your challenge or journey has been, we are all Corps Centurions!

Since the #100for100 challenge began at the beginning of June, we have completed 13,235 activities and covered an incredible 108,838 tracked miles, two-and-a-half times the Earth’s circumference. Doing so, we have raised over £65,000 for the Royal Signals Charity and brought the Corps family – Regular, Reserve and Cadet – together at a time we physically could not.

Congratulations and thanks must go to everyone involved, but a few deserve special mention.

LCpl Daniel Smith took on a feat of physical endurance, cycling the height of Mt Everest on the same hill 160 times, covering a total of 173.64 miles in 14 hours.

Cpl Johnny Hayes who having only recently learned to walk again following a stroke earlier this year walked 100.1km as part of his rehabilitation and raised an incredible £1,175.00 for the Charity.

SSgt Dave Jarvis took it upon himself to ride 100km very day in the month of June. He actually achieved a massive total of 1,920 miles in 110 hours with a phenomenal altitude gain of 141,614 feet!

SSgt Nick Cole completed a virtual Ironman (6.2 mile run, 112 mile WATT Bike, 26.2 mile run) in week two, and then as if it never happened went on to join the list of centurions only 7 days later with an epic 100km run from Colerne via Cheddar Gorge.

Sgt Matt Lewis (13SR) throughout the month has tabbed 100 miles carrying 20kgs and raised a substantial amount of money.

Well done to all the Centurions (running 100km in 1 day): on the 1st Jun, Cpl Sonia Jameson ran 100km in 11hrs 40 mins. This quickly sparked some other competitive instincts, and the weeks following saw multiple runners achieving the same distance in a single effort. Andy Dunne (492.4 miles) and Lisa Hilsop (337.8 miles) topped the runner’s mileage leaderboards for the men and women respectively.

Not to be outdone and having already joined the impressive list of centurions, Capt Anna Mulderigg and Capt Jim McGrory (1SR) along with SSgt Dave McArthur (16SR) set out on the 28 Jun to complete an impressive 100-mile event. Whilst Dave had to drop out at 40 miles, Jim and Anna went on to finish, the latter in an incredible 17hrs 50mins.

SSgt Dipal Gurung completed the 100km “the Gurka way’ whilst carrying a 15kg doko. Truly awesome! Speaking of the Gurkha way, let us not forget the epic challenge that SSgt Rich Ross (2SR) completed in finishing 100 Momos in 3 sittings. So impressive that it even hit the Master’s radar in his 100for100 update #humor #humility

A huge thank you must go to Cpl Danny Pain whose enthusiasm and drive ensured that so many people were wearing the #100for100 t-shirt. His boundless energy and positivity has been remarkable. The Corps and Charity thank you. Also, the Cadet community have been amazing. Instructors, cadets and parents got behind this epic Royal Signals100 event and we thank each and every one of you.

Finally, we must thank all-round sporting legend Captain Jay Jennings, who took the original idea and, if you excuse the pun, ran with it. He set up the 100for100 Strava group, organised, persuaded, monitored and generally just made it all happen. Thank you Jay!

On The Way

If at first you don’t succeed…

When Steve Binks set out on his RSBF fundraising challenge in April 2016 he didn’t bank on the unseasonably severe weather. His plan was to set-off from Edale in Derbyshire and complete the 268 mile route to Kirk Yetholm in Scotland in approximately two-weeks.  He told us “I’ll be self supported carrying my own tent and food, though I may use the occasional hostel, bunkhouse and cafe if discovered on route.”

Hostelries and respite were few and far between but stoically Steve battled for nine gruesome days, covering a remarkable 136 miles before the elements – snow storms, gale-force winds and extremely low temperatures – forced him to postpone the trek; it was simply too dangerous to continue.

At that point many would have thrown-in the towel; sponsors had pledged money and we know all would have felt his efforts to date were more than valiant and worthy. Not Steve; with true grit and determination he vowed to complete the walk during his summer leave. His Just Giving blog declared: “I’m going back to finish the remaining 120 miles. I’ll be setting off from Middleton in Teesdale in August with the intention of reaching the finish at Kirk Yetholm. Thanks to all who’ve supported me. Hopefully I’ll finish it this time.”

Taking to the hills again

Next time I’ll stick to walking the dog! 

True to his word, on the 16th August Steve was back on “The Way”. The first day he hiked from Middleton in Teesdale to Dufton, a distance of some 20 miles. The next day he covered the 16 miles from Dufton to Garrigill crossing four peaks including Cross Fell; the highest peak in the Pennines. Day three was in theory a 20 mile hike from Garrigill to Greenhead but in practice the second half was a bog – so more splurge and squish than stride and march. Thursday’s trek from Bellingham to Hadrian’s Wall was a little drier but needless to say the torrents returned.  “The rain joined me for most of the last two days and nights – Friday to Byrness and beyond to a refuge hut and Saturday to Kirk Yetholm.”

Target Achieved

Steve finished the walk on schedule and, at 02.19 on Sunday 21st August 2016 he sent a message to the RSBF with the magic words:

“Finished. Glad I’ve made it, though next time I think I’ll stick to walking the dog!”

Steve you’re a stalwart. Thank-you for going to such lengths for us, for raising money, for not giving-up and for being so singularly determined to help us, help others.

Finally, both Steve and we at The RSBF want to say a massive thank-you to all who sponsored him to the sprightly tune of £500, ensuring he reached his fundraising goal. The money will make a genuine and heartfelt difference to fellow serving and retired Signallers who are in need or distress.