HRH The Duchess of Cornwall joins Afghan veterans' families for DecAid's Munro Mission
Thursday, August 11, 2011
HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, Royal Patron of the DecAid Appeal, met DecAid’s Munro Mission team today during their attempt to summit all 283 Munros. Her Royal Highness met the team as they passed Balmoral Castle on the 11th day of their 49 day challenge.
The team were also joined by John and Moira Adams, the parents of Private Kyle Adams from the Parachute Regiment who lost his life in Afghanistan on 6th August 2009. Mr and Mrs Adams were presented with a wreath made from local heather by Her Royal Highness. The team are dedicating every Munro they climb to service men and women whose lives have been lost in Afghanistan over the last 10 years. The wreath was then placed on the summit of Lochnagar, the Munro dedicated to their son which the team climbed during the afternoon. Lochnagar was one of the six Munros climbed on the day as part of the team’s challenge. On meeting the Munro Mission team Mr Adams said “I really don’t have the words to describe how wonderful these young people are. I have such admiration for the enormity of their challenge.”
This week the DecAid Munro Mission team were also joined by families of servicemen from RAF Kinloss, who lost their lives in the Nimrod crash in Afghanistan 5 years ago. The crash killed 14 service personnel. The families were joining the DecAid team to climb the Munros that were dedicated to their lost loved ones.
The Munro Mission is the second event 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. Cited by explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes as “one of the most demanding physical challenges within the UK”, the team aim to conquer all 283 Scottish mountains over 3,000 feet without motorised transport in just 49 days. This feat has only been completed by thirteen people to date. The challenge began on 1st August and to complete in 49 days the team have to walk, cycle or kayak 36 miles every day, ascending 81 vertical miles in the process – the equivalent of climbing Mount Everest fourteen-and-a-half times. The team have already climbed over 60 Munros and are 11 days into the challenge.
The Munro Mission closely follows the DecAid launch event in Edinburgh which was also attended by Her Royal Highness. The DecAid Massed Pipes and Drums event included a large number of youngsters from schools and youth clubs representing young people in their support for our Armed Forces.
The organisation is also looking for members of the public to join the DecAid team on one or more of the legs of the Munro Mission in a bid to support the appeal and, in the process, help our troops and their families. The Munro Mission seeks to raise funds for the British Forces affected by the conflict in Afghanistan. All funds raised will be donated to Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) and The British Limbless Ex-Servicemen Association (BLESMA) through the appeal.
This challenge is being supported by Brewin Dolphin, one of the largest independent private client investment managers in the UK, and Nite Watches.
