As well as the usual charitable commitments of the Company the Master has a discretionary sum that can be awarded to one-off special cases. As an ex-Navy man he was clearly impressed by the fund-raising challenge described by lieutenant Commander Pascal Patterson.
Two serving Royal Navy officers, two bikes, no support team, 35 days – 5000 km across the USA. Now that’s a challenging expedition!
In July 2022, Pascal and Dan (the two aforementioned Royal Navy officers) will cycle unsupported across the USA, from coast to coast. Departing the Pacific Ocean and arriving at the Atlantic Ocean, the pair will climb over the top of the Rockies, cross the Arizona desert in 50 degree heat, and dodge hurricanes in the Deep South. An outline of their route can be found below.
Why? An excellent question! Beyond showcasing the mental and physical resilience that exists in the Royal Navy, the pair are raising funds and awareness for mental health in the Service, with all funds going directly to the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity. Having both served multiple frontline tours as Aircrew Officers, they’ve seen first hand the mental health impact operations can have on Service personnel and their families – they’ve set themselves a fundraising target of £10,000.
Training is in full swing, the pair have averaged 750 km between them each week, which equates to a lot of Jaffa cakes …You can follow their progress at www.starsandspokes.com (includes a weekly blog), on Instagram @starsandspokes, and donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/starsandspokes
