Navy Leave Portsmouth On March For Honour

A team from the Royal Navy's setting off on a thousand mile march from HMS Victory in Portsmouth this morning.

They'll join armed forces personnel from across the country on a 1,000-mile speed march today in aid of the Royal British Legion.

March For Honour hopes to raise £1 million for the charity and it will take place over the course of the next seven days, with each team member in full military uniform and carrying in excess of 40 pounds.

Four teams from four services will begin the march in different locations, before uniting to finish the final leg of the march together.

A team from the Royal Navy will begin the march at HMS Victory in Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.

The Royal Marines start at Plymouth Hoe, the RAF will set off from the war memorial in Stamford, Lincolnshire, and the Army will march away from Cardiff Castle.

The teams will also stop off at various locations each day.

All of the forces will then unite on November 9 in Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire, the town where the bodies of those killed on operations in Afghanistan are honoured as they are driven through the town.

After joining up, the teams will march into London to deliver the Book of Remembrance to The Festival of Remembrance at The Royal Albert Hall on Remembrance Day.

March For Honour creator Lance Corporal Ram Patten said: "Having served in Afghanistan, I truly appreciate the support the Legion provided to me and my family. The March provides an opportunity to thank The Royal British Legion, raise vital funds and make the public aware of the brilliant work they do."

Prime Minister David Cameron helped launch the March For Honour fundraising effort when he invited L/Cpl Patten to Downing Street at the end of September.

The Royal British Legion's director of national events and fundraising, Russell Thompson, said: "March For Honour encapsulates what we are all about. The funds raised from March For Honour and the 2010 Poppy Appeal will fund our vital welfare and rehabilitation work for the armed forces community.

"The Legion spends over £1.4 million each week in its work and we have recently committed £12 million to The Royal British Legion Battle Back Challenge Centre, a facility being built to help rehabilitate injured and seriously wounded Servicemen through adaptive use of sport and adventurous training."

Royal Navy Team Participants:

- Leading Physical Trainer Leon Taylor is a Leading Physical Trainer from Runcorn, but he is currently working and living in the Portsmouth area with his wife and daughter. He has served in the Navy for ten years, and has been deployed in Iraq. He has chosen to be a part of March For Honour to help raise awareness amongst the British public and emphasise the value of our Service men and women.

- Petty Officer Physical Trainer Suzie Parker joined the Navy straight from school in 1994, and has recently been drafted to Portsmouth to work in the Eastern Region Adventurous Training Centre. She is involved with March For Honour to raise awareness and provide valuable support for Service personnel and their families.

- Petty Officer Physical Trainer Kev Green is originally from Edinburgh and is now based in Her Majesty's Naval Base Portsmouth as waterfront support staff. He joined the Royal Marines in 1999, and got involved with March For Honour to help raise awareness of those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

- Chief Petty Officer Trainer Jan Matthews is currently employed at HMS Temeraire in Adventurous Training policy. He has been a member of the PT Specialisation for 12 years and sub-specialises as an Adventure Training Instructor. He is getting involved with March For Honour to give support to the brave families who have lost love ones in Iraq and Afghanistan.

- Petty Officer Physical Trainer Jason Gadd has been a serving member of the Royal Navy for 12 years, which has taken him to a number of broadening billets worldwide, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Northern Ireland. He is getting involved with March For Honour to support the families of the Service men and women who have paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving for Queen and country.