Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) is proud to highlight the efforts of dedicated supporter and colleague Alanna Oakes, who is taking on the demanding Isle of Wight Ultra Challenge in support of the naval community.
Based in Gosport, Alanna balances home life with her husband, stepchildren and Spanish greyhound, Storm, alongside her professional role at RNRMC. Through her work, she creates content and shares powerful stories that connect people with the charity’s support services. Outside of work, she enjoys staying active through walking, gym sessions and hiking, as well as spending time with family and friends across Gosport, Southsea and the Isle of Wight.
Now, she is channelling that passion for the outdoors into one of her biggest personal challenges yet.
Alanna was inspired to sign up for the Ultra Challenge to push beyond her comfort zone and test herself both physically and mentally. In 2020, she overcame a Proximal Femur Osteotomy (PFO) that left her needing to relearn how to walk, an experience that tested her resilience and continues to shape her determination. Living with hip dysplasia and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder (HSD), she knows this will be no small feat.
“I wanted to take on something that felt genuinely challenging,” she explains. “Walking in nature is my happy place, so taking on the Ultra challenge, especially on the Isle of Wight where I was born and spent the first 18 years of my life, makes it even more meaningful.”
Her decision to fundraise for RNRMC comes from the heart. Having seen first-hand the impact the charity has on serving personnel, veterans and their families, Alanna wanted to give back in a more personal way. By taking on this challenge, she is helping to ensure that vital support continues to reach those who need it most.
That sense of purpose is deeply rooted in her family connection to the Royal Navy. Her uncle, Chief Petty Officer Jack ‘Topsy’ Turner, served at HMS Mauritius and later HMS Mercury. She also carries a deeply personal family story linked to the Royal Naval Hospital at HMS Mauritius, where her aunt Angela sadly passed away. These experiences have strengthened her connection to the naval community and her appreciation of the importance of support networks during times of service and loss.
As she prepares for the Ultra challenge ahead, she draws on that strength, approaching the event with focus and purpose, and hoping to make her family proud as she takes on the challenge in memory of her aunt and in honour of her uncle’s service.
“Mentally, I know I’m strong,” she says. “The physical side will be the toughest, but I’m determined not just to finish, but to finish strong, with a goal of completing it in under 12 hours.”
Through every step, Alanna hopes her journey will encourage others to take on their own challenges in support of RNRMC.
“Go for it,” she says. “It’s not meant to be easy, but that’s what makes it worthwhile. You don’t have to be the fastest or the strongest – you just have to keep going. Supporting RNRMC gives you that extra reason to push through, and the sense of achievement at the end is incredible.”
To show your support visit: https://www.justgiving.com/page/alanna-oakes-rnrmc
