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Bicester Harriers go on run for beer money (From Oxford Mail)
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Bicester Harriers go on run for beer money
5:16pm Thursday 21st January 2010
RUNNING club members have vowed to carry a stretcher the length of Hadrian’s Wall to raise money to buy beer for troops returning from Afghanistan.
About 10 members of Bicester Hash Harriers have signed up to run the 72-mile route in Cumbria and Northumbria over four days in April.
They hope to raise at least £5,000 from the event to share between military charities Beer for the Boys and Help for Heroes.
The team plans to carry the stretcher to pay tribute to troops who have been injured in battle. Wives and partners of the runners will lie on the stretcher during parts of the run.
Iain Belton, 59, from Bicester, has his 26-year-old son Sebastian serving as a corporal with the RAF Regiment.
He added: “My son has done five tours of duty, including two in Afghanistan “One of the Hash members has done two tours and we have people who have sons or relatives in the military.
“Bicester Hash will run, walk or crawl the length of the wall to raise money for these charities.
“We will take a stretcher to symbolise the Help for Heroes logo.
“The significance of that is to do with medics when they bring people back wounded. If you look at the website for Help for Heroes there are two medics carrying a stretcher.
“The terrain starts off sedate but soon it’s up and down and over rocks.
“I wouldn’t want to be on it then.”
Mr Belton said Help for Heroes was well known, but Beer for the Boys also deserved support.
He said: “Beer for the Boys is a charity started by Wing Commander Steve Chadwick, at RAF Brize Norton, and aims to provide a welcome beer on the plane for all the military personnel leaving Afghanistan, either after their tour of duty or on their rest periods.
“It’s given to the boys and girls as they leave Afghan airspace.”
Hashing is an non-competitive sport where runners aged seven to 70 follow a paperchase or flour markers.
It was started by British expatriates in Malaysia in the 1930s and has since spread throughout the world.
The Bicester group was set up in 1974 by military personnel but most current members are civilians.
To sponsor the runners, see bicesterh3.org/hadrian
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Your Say YourOxford
Quentin Walker, Oxford says...
12:15pm Fri 22 Jan 10
Unless the rules have been changed, alcohol is not allowed on RAF aircraft. The Wg Cdr should know this.
Tigerskies, Wallingford says...
6:20pm Fri 22 Jan 10
Quentin Walker wrote:Correct. However, concessions have been made for the guys and girls returning from their arduous tours. The RAF are also aware of this, as the charity has been going since 2007.
'He said: “Beer for the Boys is a charity started by Wing Commander Steve Chadwick, at RAF Brize Norton, and aims to provide a welcome beer on the plane...' Unless the rules have been changed, alcohol is not allowed on RAF aircraft. The Wg Cdr should know this.
ONE beer is all it is! Not much to give them really is it, after all they've been through?
Amnesia, Bicester says...
6:56pm Mon 25 Jan 10
Amnesia (the one on the stretcher)
Members of the running club and supporters
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Petre Mcvey, Barton says...
2:00am Fri 22 Jan 10