24-hour ‘Groby Challenge’ to raise money for injured veterans

20 May 2015

On Friday 29 May the village of Groby in Leicestershire will see representatives from Groby Village including Groby Borough Councillor and former Mayor Martin Cartwright, the local Army Reserve unit (158 RLC), Loughborough University Officer Training Corps (RAF Typhoon Squadron), members of GE (Druck), amongst many others do laps of the village over a period of 24 hours to raise money for Blesma, The Limbless Veterans and Help for Heroes.

The challenge will start at 1300hrs on the Friday outside the Ex-Servicemen’s Club on Leicester Road where it will also finish 24 hours later. The circuit is 4.5km around the village and teams will change runners every hour. Blesma Member Paul Swain, who lost his arm while serving in Afghanistan, will be running the final lap.

After the run, the Club will be open for the FA Cup Final which kicks off at 1730hrs. There will also be an auction with prizes including signed football shirts, a limited edition electric guitar and local restaurant vouchers along with food to enjoy after a hard day’s running!

The challenge has been organised by Jeff Twilton, who says: “It’s an honour to run in this event. I am trying to go one better than the Half Marathon I organised and ran last year. The cause is close to all our hearts. Blesma does a great job for some special guys. I am especially glad Paul could come running with us and am sure the village will turn out to support us.”

For anyone who would like to take part, they can email jeff.twilton@ge.com, or for those wish they can turn up any time during the 24 hours to register and be allocated a slot. Those who would like to support the runners can do so by coming down to the Ex-Servicemen’s Club anytime, wave a flag and or just cheer the runners on. On site for the entire event will be support from 158 RLC displaying some of the latest military heavy vehicles along with Blesma and Help for Heroes charity organised stalls.

Blesma, The Limbless Veterans is the national charity for all limbless service men and women, their widows and dependants. It was formed in the years following the First World War and became a national charity in 1932.

 

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor

Hi-res images can be downloaded from the links below:

Jeff Twilton: /media/313755/Twilton.png

GE Fundraisers: /media/313756/Cheltenham-Half-Team.jpg

Paul Swain: /media/157365/6.jpg

For more information about Paul, go to: /about-us/whos-who/meet-the-members/paul-swain/?returnto=1

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