8:30am Thursday 9th September 2010
By Adam Binnie
A group of students from Exeter and Plymouth Universities, including one from Watford, is hoping to raise more than £350,000 for soldiers affected by the war in Afghanistan.
James Fish, 22, is taking part in the DecAid campaign, which honours the contribution of British Armed Forces in Afghanistan.
The Swiss Avenue resident, who graduated from Exeter in 2009, will join others in a series of extreme physical challenges throughout 2011, to raise both money and awareness.
Mr Fish, who studied engineering and management, said: “I got involved for a number of reasons, I have a number of friends who have served, or are going to serve, in Afghanistan and unfortunately have known a couple of soldiers who have given their lives during the conflict.
“The primary reason is because having spent time in the Territorial Army and with visits to the Regular Army, I found that there was a lot more to soldiering than I had previously thought.”
“Simple things that we take for granted, like going to bed, are no longer simple when on active service and confronted with the enemy. This is something that the majority of the public don't realise.
“I wish to change the perception of what each serviceman and women goes through when they serve their country in a theatre of war."
Mr Fish met the founder of DecAid, 23-year-old Rupert Laing, a fellow 2009 Exeter graduate, while attending the university's officer training corps.
Mr Laing said “We feel passionately about the cause and we hope to encourage support for the physically wounded, the bereaved families, and those suffering from post traumatic stress disorder.”
A series of extreme physical challenges, involving several thousand ex-servicemen, their family and friends across the country, will take place next year.
Firstly, the “Munro Mission”, in Scotland, aims to conquer 283 mountains in 45 days, and “The Ride 2 Remember”, which is a static bike race from London to Kabul.
Also in the line up are “The Big Tow”, during which vehicles will be dragged around Rockingham race track, and “Stretched to the Limit” in which 30 teams will attempt to trek up Snowdon while carrying a heavy stretcher.
Mr Fish is also looking into setting up a number of local events, to be held in and around Watford, including a fun run, a charity cricket match and music events.
The campaign will donate proceeds to three service charities, The Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association, The British Ex-Servicemen Association and Talking 2 Minds.
For more information visit the related link below.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/trade_directory/