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Charity Offa Bahrain sailors couldn't refuse
1 March 2021
Personnel at the UK base in Bahrain braved wind and rain (yes, really) to complete a charity cycling challenge.
Three dozen soldiers, sailors and airmen (troops protect the naval facility while RAF personnel who run the aviation hub at nearby Manama airport live in the complex) climbed on to cycling machines to say ‘thank you’ to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
The charity has invested heavily in the Royal Navy’s Middle East hub – home to six major warships plus command and support staff in the Naval Support Facility – to make life in the demanding Gulf conditions more bearable.
Its latest donation has allowed personnel to equip a new waterfront gym facility in addition to the existing workout suites in the base’s central amenities block.
The base’s clubz Petty Officer Andrew Davey wanted to thank the charity for its donation by raising money – and picked a 177-mile (285km) cycling challenge.
The very specific distance is the length of Offa’s Dyke Path – a long-distance walking trail which runs from the port of Liverpool along the England/Wales border down to the Severn Estuary, roughly following the route of the 8th Century rampart built by King Offa, to separate his kingdom of Mercia from rival kingdoms in modern-day Wales.
Six teams of six volunteers apiece took part in the challenge, with a range of different fitness abilities, ranks, rates and ages.
The fastest time was an impressive seven hours and 52 minutes, with all teams finishing in just under nine hours.
Despite hitting their biking target, they’re a little short of the £1k they hoped to raise. If you fancy helping them out, donate via: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/andrew-davey9