RN SAR squadron charity run

Personnel from 771 (Search and Rescue) Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose have completed a 60 hour Marathon Running Challenge for charity at ASDA Supermarket in  Penryn. 

The team were organised by Petty Officer Aircrewman Russ ‘Patch’ Adams to raise funds towards a target figure of £60,000 as part of the ongoing effort during the RN helicopter SAR 60^th anniversary year. There were a total of 18 runners from the SAR Squadron who all ran during this incredible ‘Runathon’ and the team even managed to encourage an ASDA shopper, ‘Robin’ to step onboard the running machine for 10 minutes. 

The runners clocked up some remarkable distances and times on the running machines, placed in the foyer of the supermarket to entice shoppers to contribute. Leading the board was Paul Smith who recorded 102 kilometres over 8 hrs on the treadmill. Others posting equally outstanding distances and times were Lieutenant Al Lockett  with  85 Km over 6 hours, Leading hand Dan Newton 68 Km  over 5 hours and Lieutenant Commander  Adam Jones 57 Km in 5 hours 47 minutes and of course ‘Robin the shopper’ 1.8 Km  in 10 minutes.

In total the 771 NAS SAR 60 runners covered 443.61 miles (or 713.89 Km) over 62 hrs and 35 minutes due to some dual running and overlapping, with a massive amount raised of £3,451.63. 

Ably supported by bucket shakers Phil Ross, David Morey, Paul Blanthorne, Paul Smalley and Kathryn Cartlidge throughout the 60 hours, the team were thankful to Bernadette from ASDA Penryn who coordinated and assisted setting up the event and allowing the team to encourage shoppers as they passed by to donate. Reaping the benefits of the ‘SAR 60’ charity fundraising will be; Royal Navy & Royal Marines Charities, Children’s Hospice South West and CLIC Sargent. 

POACMN Russ (Patch) Adams who hails from Toronto, Canada originally but now lives in Helston is a keen runner for both Culdrose and Cornwall Athletic Club. He said “It was a fantastic team effort, a lot of people were quite sore but still got back on the treadmill to finish their 2^nd, 3^rd, 4^th or even 6^th shifts. We were all very excited to see how generous the public were with their donations. It will go a long way to helping us reach the £60,000 our ‘SAR 60’ charity target.”