Saturday 11th October 2008

On Saturday 11th October, members of IMJIN Company, 2 Royal Irish, presented a cheque for four thousand pounds to representatives from the charity Struggle Against Muscular Dystrophy (S.A.M.) - the proceeds from their fundraising efforts whilst they were stationed in Afghanistan. The 92 officers and men of the company, made up entirely of TA soldiers, were serving with the 16 Air Assault Brigade based at Camp Bastion.

They heard of the charity’s “please fix SAM” appeal via a morale package sent out to Ballymena man Sgt Gary Wilkins by his mum - a copy of the local paper with an article about S.A.M. was in the parcel. The lads read the story and emailed the charity immediately wanting to help raise funds and awareness...

Muscular Dystrophy is a heartbreaking progressive muscle wasting disease which is 100% fatal. There are over 40 forms of the disease – the number 1 genetic killer in the UK and Ireland. In its congenital form the disease causes severe muscle wasting, causing children to become dependent on wheelchairs at a very early age. As the muscles continue to waste sufferers become quadriplegic, they suffer from scoliosis and painful muscle contractures and eventually lose the ability to breathe and eat without assistance. There is currently no treatment and no cure. Longevity and quality of life are severely compromised. The charity aims to increase public and political awareness of this group of diseases and to raise vital funds for research into the condition in the hope of ultimately improving the treatment, quality of life and long term outlook for this generation of MD sufferers. The goal is to raise £500,000 over the next two years.

"In keeping with custom, 2 Royal Irish donate to a charitable organisation annually and IMJIN company were no exception, even out in Afghanistan," said Gary. Within hours of reading about the appeal, their operational resident barber, Cpl Alan Yeates, was busy shaving heads to the required British standard for $2 a go - all in aid of please fix SAM, while others put on their thinking caps in a bid to raise as much cash as possible.

The result was an epic stationary cycle marathon, launched on June 9th by Major Mark Hudson (OC) Officer Commanding Imjin Company. Gary explained: "It saw Company Sergeant Major Errol Monaghan, Colour Sergeant Stephen Barnes and myself kicking off the sponsored ride from our camp, Camp Bastion, to Ballymena - on exercise bicycles in the gym - in temperatures averaging 44 degrees, covering a distance of 5,958 Kilometres. Before the end of our tour, the distance was whittled down by the officers, senior ranks and men of Imjin Company".

Gillian Garrett, Chairperson of S.A.M.’s Charity Committee received the cheque from the soldiers at the medals parade in Hillsborough on Saturday. “We are incredibly proud of these guys – when facing such adversity they had the compassion to think of helping these children who are suffering from this awful disease.” Gillian added that Struggle Against Muscular Dystrophy is quite unique in that it is a ‘zero cost’ charity. “Everyone who is involved in the campaign gives their time, expertise, products and services for free. This means that every penny we raise will go directly into the hands of the researchers.“