The Royal Tank Regiment take on the Spartan Beast, all to raise money for bereaved Armed Forces children
Ten soldiers from The Royal Tank Regiment (RTR) in Tidworth pushed themselves to their absolute limit last weekend after taking part in the Spartan Beast, a half marathon obstacle course, all to help raise money for bereaved Armed Forces children and young people.
Lance Corporal Ben Shellard and nine other members of the RTR worked together to help each other navigate the 30 obstacles that were part of the 21km route. Everything they encountered as part of the Beast challenge, which took place on Saturday (9th) at Pippingford Park in East Sussex, was designed to test them, and test them it did.
Some of the RTR Spartan Team
Getting them through was the cause at the heart of their challenge, Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a national charity which provides integral support to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces.
Getting them through was the cause at the heart of their challenge, Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a national charity which provides integral support to children and young people who have experienced the death of a parent who served in the Armed Forces.
Some of the RTR team with Richard Jones
The charity, which was set up in 2010 by war widow Nikki Scott, is a cause close to the heart of many of the RTR. Scotty’s Little Soldiers was set up in honour of fellow RTR comrade, Corporal Lee Scott, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2009. His wife, Nikki, set up the charity after she saw the devastating impact his death had on their two young children and wanted to help others in the same situation.
The charity is currently providing assistance to hundreds of bereaved Forces children and young people around the UK and services offered include guidance to parents and carers, access to professional child bereavement support, personal education and learning assistance (including grants) and fun activities such as holiday respite breaks and group events. These are all designed to remind the children and young people supported by Scotty’s that they are not alone.
“It is a great regimental honour to be able to support the charity that was inspired by the tragic loss of one of our own” said RTR LCpl Ben Shellard.
Ben (32) who has served with the RTR for five years, was instrumental in getting the Spartan team together for this weekend. Like the rest of his comrades, Ben knows what an important role Scotty’s plays within the Forces community.
He said: “Scotty’s is just incredible. The loss of a soldier is always tragic and the void they leave behind, especially for their children is immeasurable. Scotty’s understand this and has made it their personal responsibility to not only raise awareness of this fact, but to help out those children and young people left behind. This is why it is so important that the charity continues to receive support in as many ways as possible and why we chose to dedicate the Spartan challenge to them.”
Some of the RTR team
A big fan of events like the Spartan Honour Series, Ben explains he enjoys testing his strengths and weaknesses, he said: “With 21km worth of obstacles, there’s no better way to find out what you’re made of. The route really was as challenging as I expected but we all came together to help each other through.
It was a fantastic opportunity to run alongside friends and colleagues while also knowing we were working hard to raise money for a truly fantastic cause.”
The group have already raised a total of £1,840 so far but hope they can still raise more. Ben said: “When it comes to fundraising, the sky’s the limit. Each of us have been raising money in our own ways, but the more we raise the better.”
Scotty’s founder, Nikki Scott said: “I can’t thank Ben and the RTR enough for their support, every penny they have raised will go along way in delivering a high level of support to our members. The Spartan Beast is no mean feat, it’s a challenge I know Lee would love to have taken on, and I know he’d be immensely proud to know that his fellow RTR colleagues are helping support the charity set up in his honour.”
Some of the RTR team, with Sally Orange and Richard Jones
