Nine tough it out in Extreme Forces Weekend
A RUDE awakening at 2am, a beach landing, abseiling and a race carrying a heavy log were among the challenges that faced participants in this year's Extreme Forces Weekend.
Organised by the Black Rock MMA (multiple martial arts) group, this was the event's second year and nine hardy individuals raised some £500 each for the privilege of taking part.
They were put through their paces by a team of serving and ex-serving military instructors, including Martin Le Page.
He said that the aim was to give the participants a taste of military-style training.
These included battlefield casualty drills, such as the race with the log, a competition involving carrying a 70kg dummy, as well as operations in built-up areas.
For the latter, an abandoned building was pressed into service used for the candidates to train in the skill of clearing a room and learning search techniques.
The funds raised were in aid of Helping Jonah, Helping Others, the charity set up to fundraise for Jonah Gillingham, who was diagnosed with aHUS – an ultra-rare blood disorder – in June 2014.
