Service charity round-up: ex-Commando is honoured and more

A former Royal Marine Commando has been honoured with two awards for his charity work, which has continued even after he lost a leg.

The Plymouth Herald saw him nominated for the Pride of Plymouth Awards 2014 as well as the Pride of Britain Awards 2014.

Lee Spencer had survived three tours of Afghanistan before he lost his leg in an accident on the M3 in the UK.

Speaking about his accident, the married father of two said: "I was extremely close to death, but now I'm in this position where I'm just glad to be here today."

"Now I just want to help people."

Mr Spencer stopped on the M3 in Surrey on January 5th when he saw hazard lights flashing in the distance. He noticed a BMW had crashed on the central reservation and was partially obstructing the middle and fast lanes.

As he has first aid skills, he pulled over on the hard shoulder and went to see if everyone was safe. He saw two men and a woman, who were originally in the car, and another person who had stopped to help. No one was left in the car.

After walking 200 metres up the hard shoulder to try to make drivers aware of the accident, he heard a bang and was hit by something. An Audi had collided with the BMW, causing the engine to eject from the vehicle and almost completely sever his right leg.

In spite of this life changing accident, Mr Spencer has continued doing charity work, which he had been engaged in prior to his accident.

Last year he raised £11,000 after running two marathons for a former Royal Marine called Dominic Lovett. He had been paralysed from the neck down after a tragic accident while on exercise in Norway.

More ex Royal Marines and civilians were engaged in fundraising at the 24th annual Commando Challenge.

Some 2,000 people took part in part of the endurance course at the Commando Training Centre at Lympstone. They met at the section on Woodbury Common, which led them through tunnels, muddy pits and ponds.

For this year's event, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund and the Devon Air Ambulance Trust received the funds raised by participants.

Competitors were given the choice between a four, ten or 17 kilometre run. Each of these routes make use of parts of the endurance course.

Among those that ran the course were 76-year-old Derek 'Blondie' Boorn formerly of the Royal Marine's Association Swanage Branch, his 55-year old son Peter who is also an ex-Royal Marine and his 19-year-old granddaughter Lauren who hopes to join the Royal Navy.

There was also a 19-strong team of women from HMS Raleigh, which was lead by lieutenant commander Caroline Feasey. They turned up in pink and blue shirts but ended the day caked in mud.

Between the initial fee of signing up and fundraising efforts of the 2,000 entrants, challenge organiser Alan Hardy said £100,000 was raised.

Some 600 former members of the Women's Royal Air Force and serving female members of the Royal Air Force also took part in a UK wide charity relay to raise money for the Royal Air Force Association and MacMillan Cancer Support.

The Women's Royal Air Force came to an end in 1994 when it was merged with the British military, due to more trades being opened up to women in the forces.

As part of the charity relay ride, there were 97 legs to be completed in total that covered every past and present RAF Station in the UK.

However, the relay was set up in such a way as to make sure detached members were able to take part regardless of where they are in the world.

Cyclists in the relay would complete their leg of the journey but would also cycle additional miles to add to a bank of virtual miles. For example, flight lieutenant Ayla Holdom who is currently serving in the Falkland Islands was involved in clocking up miles for the relay.