Veterans’ mental health charity Combat Stress is commemorating Remembrance Sunday this year with a unique endurance event across Hampshire.
Race to Remember is a 75km ultramarathon that will start in Aldershot, the home of the British Army, and finish in Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy. The race will pause at 11am and runners will join the nation in observing the two-minute silence. The run, one of the last organised ultramarathons of the year, promises to be a poignant winter challenge.
The event also features an alternative route of 36km that can be walked or run by non-ultramarathoners who still wish to test their endurance, while raising vital funds for Combat Stress.
The charity was founded at the end of the First World War to support those who returned from the front line with shell shock, traumatised by what they had experienced in combat.
Today, thousands of veterans across the UK who served in conflicts spanning the Second World War to Afghanistan depend on Combat Stress’ specialist mental health services to rebuild their lives.
The charity is heavily dependent on public donations. The money raised by Race to Remember will enable the charity to continue delivering its lifechanging treatment and support to former servicemen and women.
Robert Marsh, Director of Fundraising at Combat Stress, said:
“It would be fantastic to see as many people as possible sign up to take part in Race to Remember. It’s the perfect opportunity to show your support for former servicemen and women while really putting your physical endurance to the test.
“Combat Stress provides unique lifechanging, and often life-saving, support to veterans in the UK with complex mental health problems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for our specialist services remains critical, so having the support of the public is vital to ensure we can continue being there to empower veterans, rebuild families and save lives.”
Government guidance on mass participation events will be strictly followed to ensure the safety of all involved. Registration fees for the event are set according to the chosen distance, with £65 for the ultramarathon, and £45 for the 36km.
Participants are also encouraged to try to raise as much as they can in sponsorship, with rewards on offer for hitting various fundraising milestones. To find out more and to register, visit: combatstress.org.uk/RacetoRemember
