DecAid Team Complete Munro Mission
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
DecAid team members and supporters are celebrating the successful completion of their 48 day, 283 Munro Mission raising over £37,000 for the charity appeal which currently stands at over £100,000.
The Munro Mission is part of a year-long campaign organised by DecAid; the charity appeal which has been set up by people aged 25 and under to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan by donating all funds to the Service charities: Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) and The British Limbless Ex-Servicemen Association (BLESMA).
In total, the Munro Mission team, Tom O’Connell (24) and Alex Robinson (21) who were joined by bereaved families and friends of the fallen, have climbed a vertical height of 81 miles during the endurance challenge - the equivalent to climbing the height of Mount Everest 14 times. They completed the 1600 mile route on foot, bike and kayak covering an average of 36 miles a day without a break, seeing them achieve the second fastest time ever for the challenge without the use of motorised transport. At the age of 21 Alex became the youngest person ever to complete a continuous round of all 283 Munros without motorised transport.
The DecAid team and bereaved family members and friends poignantly dedicated each Munro climbed to service men and women who have lost their lives in Afghanistan over the last ten years.
Team Leader and DecAid co-founder Tom O’Connell said, “The last 7 weeks have been the most moving experience of my life. Meeting so many of the families and everyone else who has come to climb the Munros dedicated to the servicemen who have lost their lives in Afghanistan has been an honour. Their support has helped to keep us going through such huge physical and mental battles.
“I am delighted that the appeal has now raised so much for the charities we are supporting and that we can play our part in honouring those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice on this important anniversary of the conflict.”
Ruth Griffiths, who lost a family member in Afghanistan, said “Climbing the Munro dedicated to my nephew Captain Andrew Griffiths was an immensely cathartic experience. A beautiful August day, surrounded by mountains of Scotland, we remembered the ultimate sacrifice that Andy made.
“We thank DecAid for their hard, hard work on the Munro Mission, much of the time in pretty dreadful weather."
Philip Browne from Brewin Dolphin, said “We are delighted to have been able to support DecAid’s Munro Mission. DecAid is a fantastic charity appeal and we have no doubt that the funds raised will go towards giving something back to the families and friends of those who have lost their lives fighting for peace in the East.”
