Who we are;
Mark Robinson is a serving Police Constable with Grampian Police (who is pictured with a 1400 GTR Kawasaki, similar to the machine to be loaned by Kawasaki (UK) for the event). Three other off duty colleagues may also participate in the ride.
What we are doing;
On Tuesday 17 April 2012 we are undertaking a 10 day sponsored motorcycle ride affectionaltely called ‘GOING THE EXTRA MILE’, in aid of the Royal Marine Association through ‘COMMANDO999′ to raise funds for injured ‘Royals’ for recuparation on return to the UK from overseas conflicts. The much needed funding will include onward care and welfare for the lifetime of the servicmen. We will be riding motorcycles kindly loaned by Kawasaki (UK) around all 51 Scottish, English and Welsh Police Forces with stops at all head quarters to collect donations. The journey will cover about 3200 miles. The penultimate stop over will be at RM Hasler in Plymouth to visit the injured guys who have returned from conflicts and to see where the raised money will be used. The ‘finish line’ will be at the Metropolitan Police New Scotland Yard head quarters the following day where we will be met by Chief Inspector Mark Scoular (who is the man behind the organisation of COMMANDO999 and an ex ‘Royal’ himself and Miss Lorraine Kelly (Daybreak TV) who is the charity Ambassador (who earned her recent O.B.E. for services to armed forces charity work). We will then make our way to LLOYD COOPER MOTORCYCLES in Colchester (who were instrumental in sourcing KAWASAKI (UK)’s generous support) where we will be met by the KAWASAKI BRITISH SUPERBIKE TEAM. The journey continues on to RM Condor in Arbroath to visit the final RM camp in the UK (as others will be visited on route) for a demonstration of the ‘Royals’ ‘hospitality’ before finishing at Grampian Police headquarters in Aberdeen. Each evening the COMMANDO999 web site will be updated with photos and developments so progress can be monitored.
Why we are doing it;
Back in November 2011, I (Mark Robinson) saw the COMMANDO999 web site detailing a massive effort by serving and ex ‘Royals’ doing a sponsored speed march around central London, and I thought, that I could have possibly done that 20 years ago but would still like to raise some money for the charity without (at 48 years old) becoming a casualty myself! I saw that a figure of £6m was to be raised by the 350th Royal Marine anniversary in 2014 and thought, BIKE RIDE! And after speaking with colleagues and Des Gregory at LLOYD COOPER’s, my idea to do the round Britain trip came to life and has grown serious arms and legs since. As Police officers, we have a dangerous job but not normally one which would put our lives in danger on a daily basis. We say goodbye to our families each day, knowing we will be home after work. The funding for the COMMANDO999 charity is to put some assurance in the minds of the guys serving away from the UK who may be saying goodbye to their families at the start of each deployment, unsure if they will return home. We are looking to maintain the certainty that the public are aware of these sacrifices and are preapred to do something to fund the resources in the UK. The bottom line is that the charity needs money to continue the great work, we want to keep that work going and need to something that might make a few people and companies put their hands in their pockets for a few pounds to contribute to a very worthwhile cause. A few days of riding with backache and getting cold or wet isn’t a big enough excuse or inconvenience that should prevent doing something worthwhile for someone else. It’s hardly as if anyone of us is being asked to fight for our country without the promise of coming home is it? Sponsorship for fuel and accommodation for the bikes and riders is still needed and any assistance would be gratefully accepted.
Mark Robinson
