Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) celebrated the successful completion of its 2025 flagship challenge, Race Across the UK, which saw participants go the distance – both literally and figuratively – in support of the Royal Navy and Royal Marines community.
Spanning four intense days, from 2 to 5 September, twenty-four teams raced from the Scott Monument in Edinburgh to the Britannia Royal Naval College in Dartmouth using only traditional navigation methods, grit, and sheer determination. No GPS. No shortcuts. Just courage, collaboration, and the will to make a difference.
Headlined by Babcock International, the event proved to be far more than a physical test. It captured the imagination of serving personnel, civilians, veterans, and supporters, all united in raising vital funds for RNRMC to ensure our sailors, marines, and their families are valued and supported, for life.
On Friday, an unforgettable closing ceremony was held at the Guildhall in Dartmouth, with five awards presented to recognise the achievements of our teams:
The Trailblazer Award
Team Sea Dust blazed ahead to cross the finish line with the fastest time — an impressive 37 hours and 55 minutes! They also raised over £10,000 for charity, a truly incredible achievement.
Smart Spender
Team Lewis took home this award by managing their £500 budget with precision, finishing the race with £154.90 remaining. A masterclass in money management!
The Challenge Champion
In a show of all-round excellence in endurance and teamwork, Ship Happens were crowned challenge champions, after competing head-to-head with team Winging It!
Team Spirit
Not the Tactical Twins earned this award through peer nominations. From helping teams along the route to opening their home to a stranded team, their generosity and kindness perfectly captured the spirit of the event.
The Creative Commute Award
Hats off to team Winging It, who brought their journey to life in the most creative way. They came prepared with e-bikes, used trains, buses and boats, and ended the race by kayaking down the River Dart!
This year’s Race Across the UK has raised an outstanding £80 000 so far, with donations still coming in. Whether following along on social media, cheering teams at checkpoints, or making a donation – supporters from across the UK helped make this challenge a triumph.
Samantha Nicolson MBE, Interim CEO of RNRMC, reflected on the event’s success:
“Race Across the UK has been nothing short of extraordinary. I want to extend my heartfelt congratulations to every team who took part – your determination, ingenuity, and camaraderie were truly inspiring. You’ve not only completed a formidable physical challenge, but you’ve also helped raise vital funds that will change lives across our Naval community.”
We extend our thanks to Babcock International for their unwavering support as headline sponsor along with our supporting partners, BAE Systems, Totaljobs and ESS for helping us bring this flagship challenge to life. Your commitment to the wellbeing of our naval families has made a lasting impact.
For more information and to support the ongoing fundraising efforts, visit https://fundraising.rnrmc.org.uk/event/race-across-the-uk/home
