Mike Penning will meet with “10 squaddies, 10 marathons in 5 days” soldiers as they pass through Hemel

Mike Penning will meet with a team of ten soldiers from 39 Engineer Regiment who are aiming to complete 10 marathons in 5 days to raise money for St Dunstans.

Mike Penning, Member of Parliament for Hemel Hempstead, will meet with a team of ten soldiers from 39 Engineer Regiment who are aiming to complete 10 marathons in 5 days – each carrying an army issue Bergen rucksack filled to weigh 40lbs and wearing their combat boots rather than trainers. The team will ‘tab’ from Sheffield to Brighton and pass through Hemel Hempstead on the way.

The soldiers are raising money for St Dunstans – the charity for blind ex-servicemen and women.

They are expected at Hemel Hempstead Sportspace at 6am on 4th November, where they will bed down for a few hours before leaving again 12 noon – at the latest. Mike Penning will meet them at 6am for breakfast. The Mayor of Dacorum will meet with as they leave (expected to be about 11.30am – 12 noon).

Mike said:
“The ‘10 squaddies, 10 marathons in 5 days’ is an incredibly demanding challenge to set and the lads will have to push themselves very hard. I am delighted that Hemel is on their route and I look forward to meeting them.

“St Dunstan’s does incredible work in providing support for blind and visually impaired ex-Service men and women.”

Donations are very welcome at: http://www.justgiving.com/10squaddies

Organiser SSgt Jim Offord said:
“I created the 10 Squaddies, 10 Marathons in 5 Days to support St Dunstan’s as we want to give something back to a charity that helps our fellow soldiers in difficult times. To keep it interesting I threw in the idea of wearing our Bergen’s filled to weigh 40lbs, plus combat boots rather than trainers. I went for 10 Marathons in 5 Days as I couldn’t find a record that it had been done before; there were plenty of reports of 5 marathons in 10 days, or 10 in 10 days, but no-one seems to have done 10 marathons in 5 days. People have said that’s because it’s physically impossible but we’ll prove them wrong.

“The 10 Marathons in 5 Days has the full support of the Regiment as they know the important work St Dunstan’s does to help ex-Service men and women who have lost their sight regain control to lead independent and fulfilling lives. I’ve picked a strong team as each person needs to have the mental and physical strength to complete a marathon day and night during the heart of winter.

“To prepare we’re following a 14 week training programme that includes running the local routes around Barracks and circuit training sessions, with some mixed martial arts. Additionally we each complete individual training in the evening, tabbing wearing our Bergen’s; sometimes for six hours overnight.”