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Paradigm supplies military hardened satellite communications, primarily to the UK armed forces but also to a range of other governments and organisations around the world.

www.paradigmservices.com

More to follow.

Equipment Officer Darren Swift has now ordered in specialist clothing and equipment for the IP Team. All flights have now been booked courtesy of Trailfinders.

Team Doctor Matt Wilson is now preparing the Team for their final innoculations and Medicals.

Individuals will continue to work hard in thier Units up until the last minute prior to one further training serial and the departure on 3rd October. In some cases team members are only just returning from overseas exercises and operational deployments including Afghanistan.

www.thebaton.co.uk

Alan Rowe MBE has kindly allowed the KC10 Team to take The Baton to Everest Base Camp and Island Peak. Once at Island Peak, this will be the highest the Baton has ever been taken.

Andy spends much of his spare time Climbing and Mountaineering. He has climbed in the French Alps and also many areas across the UK and is looking forward to adding the Himalayas to the list.

CSgt Farrimond has seen Operations in Northern Ireland on numerous occasions, Cambodia and Iraq and is a veteran of deployments in the arctic, jungle and desert. He has represented each unit at football and is still waiting for Everton manager Davie Moyes to give him a ring.

His free time is taken up going to watch Everton football club, running and ferrying his young family around the Exmouth area.

BJ sometimes doubles for Bob Carolgies at Blackpool Pier Theatre. He has been known to stand in for Tom Selleck on occasions as well, so rumour has it.

BJ will utilise his skills that he has learned from his lengthly service in the Royal Marines to assist Ed Ramsbottom as Rear Link Safety coordinator in Kathmandu. He is looking forward to educating Ed in the Art of Football and converting him to an Evertonian.

This year we have some 12 ranks from the recovery pathway involved, and we anticipate that recently returned members of 40 Cdo will also be taking part. Currently, 7 will be from Hasler Company and it is particularly important that events like Khumbu Challenge work within that framework. The Himalayas provides the very special opportunity for a once in a lifetime experience to reflect amongst colleagues (some of whom the exped members served with in Afghanistan) whilst trekking in a remarkable environment. It is great news that we are using our experience to benefit from this again, and I offer my very best wishes to everyone that is involved in this thoroughly worthwhile challenge.

Whilst on his 3^rd tour of Afghanistan Nigel was involved in a vehicle IED strike which resulted in 2 of his Marines being killed and he was seriously injured.  After suffering serious internal injuries and a touch and go flight back to Britain he had to undergo several months of rehabilitation. His recovery was helped by the care from my wife Louise and the nursing from his 3 year old daughter Nigella.   

During his rehabilitation he learnt of Project Fortitude and the Khumbu challenge. He saw it as the perfect opportunity to prove to himself that he still had the ability to achieve great things and still be part of a team that can share some of their experiences with people who have been in the same situation.  Nigel undertook this trip and was part of KC09. This trip to the Himalayas and to stand at the foot of Everest is the sort of opportunity you take when you get a second shot at life. Nigel’s experience as a Mountain Leader and his role on KC09 has made him the perfect choice to lead Team 1 to EBC and Island Peak.

KC09 was always going to be an ambitious undertaking with 6 teams totalling 86 spread out over the Himalayas but through careful planning and having the support of some key members of the team success was inevitable in my opinion.

Commander Guy Buckingham’s team managed to reach camp 3 in what was terrible snow conditions on Ama Dablam but it did allow some more junior members of that team to learn vital high altitude skills and experience for future expeditions from the more experienced personnel and maybe even return one day to finish what they started!

The development team under Major Molly Macpherson managed to support Matt Kingston in reaching the summit of Lobuche East 6159m a truly amazing achievement for all with other members going on to climb Pokalde and Island Peak in what was a tight and challenging itinerary.

The three trekking teams under the guidance of Majors Paul Curry, Mark Hardie and stepping in at the last minute Ade Morley also managed to achieve their goals in reaching Everest Base Camp with several injured ranks having to dig deeper than ever before to find the physical and moral courage to make every step count on their journey to Base Camp. To see the speed and determination on Mne Nick Gibbons leading the way or the sheer determination of Mne Ben Mcbean serves as inspiration to all of us that there is a reason to fight your way back to fitness and to lead as fulfilling a life as you can under the circumstances.

And finally thanks go to the final team the Rear Link manned by Lt Paul Youngman and Sgt Ed Ramsbottom who have been on the end of the phone 24/7, their professionalism and support was paramount in the success of this expedition and knowing that they were there to help us out in the event of an emergency was extremely important.

Thanks also need to go to all our supporters who have supplied equipment (Mammut, Vasque & OMM) that has allowed us to stay warm and dry, allowed us to contact loved ones (NSSL & Toughbook) and vital medical supplies (BUPA & Summit Oxygen) your continued support as always is gratefully received.

To our Patrons HRH Prince Harry and Vice Admiral Richard Ibbottson many thanks your direct involvement in fundraising has allowed this expedition to continue on two occasions.

And from me the expedition leader, I have spent 2 years organising this project with some very late frustrating nights for which my wife Sarah, who i would like to thank, has had to put up with weekends apart and away  from  my children training the teams for this amazing trip, many work hours that my CO Commander Malcolm Pollock has supported my release for to allow the continuation of planning and with the direct support of all the team leaders and medical personnel all of which has made my job so much easier and given me the opportunity to be involved in an amazing expedition and allowed me to me some amazing people who I am proud to call my friends. This has been one of life’s amazing journeys for all of us, one which I will never forget and will always cherish the special moments when those involved reached their ultimate goal.

Thank you everyone

Steve

Ed has been a rifle section commander, a security officer, training instructor, Quartermaster Sergeant and commanded a team in Fleet Standby Rifle Troop which involved working in places such as Sierra Leone, Morocco and Chile.

Ed is based at Yeovilton and is responsible for the deployment of all Stores and Equipment to the Commando Helicoper Force (CHF).

Ed was partner in crime on KC09 to Paul Youngman when they both provided Rear Link in Kathmandu.  Ed’s experience gained through twenty two years service was called upon again to provide valuable service to the KC10 Teams. He is proud to be part of this expedition, and is looking forward to witnessing what will be another unique and very rewarding challenge for all of the people involved. He is also looking forward to working with Royal Marines Football Legend BJ Farrimond.