NAVY NEWS, MARCH 2008 19
Diver turns driver
THERE’S a good chance
locator, but activating it is a meas-
that most readers of Navy
ure of last resort: press it and your
News have stood beneath
race is over.
the legs of the Eiffel Tower
Few bikers press the button.
and marvelled at this triumph
Last year, everyone finished the
Heroes Legend.
of engineering.
“There’s a hell of a lot of miles
Later this month PO(D) Mark
to do every day – and a hell of a
Jones will stand in the shadows of
lot of miles off road. The challenge
the French icon astride another
for me is not to win, it’s to finish
triumph of engineer: a KTM 640
and to raise as much money as
Adventure motorbike.
possible,” Mark adds.
It will, fingers crossed, take him
“The Heroes Legend is a race
across continents, over mountains,
and there is a serious side to it, but
across desert, through woods and
it’s also a gentleman’s race – if you
copses, over scrubland – all in the
break down there’s a good chance
name of his mum.
that someone behind you will stop
Mark, based at Fleet Diving
and help you out.”
Unit 3 at Horsea Island in
Portsmouth, is one of 157 com-
The racers leave the French
petitors in the Heroes Legend race
capital on March 8 and should
which takes motorcyclists from
arrive in Dakar on March 22.
the Eiffel Tower to the shores of
It has cost each one £4,500 to
the Atlantic in Dakar, Senegal.
enter – the fee covers things such
The diver hopes his participa-
as the helicopter which accompa-
tion in the 14-day race will make
nies riders throughout the event to
life easier for families who endure
ensure everyone is safe – an outlay
the trauma of what his family suf-
offset by some help from DNR
fered four years ago.
and the sale of a couple of bikes.
His mother was diagnosed with
Elsewhere a local motorcycle shop
the incurable brain disease CJD at
has prepared Mark’s KTM 640
the end of 2003. By the summer of
Adventure and Michelin provided
2004, it had claimed her life.
discounted tyres.
Whilst scientists continue
But otherwise, the burden falls
research into CJD, the senior rat-
upon the diver. “I didn’t realise
ing hopes to help sufferers of the
how much planning and prepara-
disease on a more personal level,
tion was involved. I set five or six
● Aircrew from 750 NAS help Carus the Patagonian sea lion
Picture: Al Edwards
raising cash for the CJD Network
months aside and it’s flown by.
which aids victims and their fami-
“I need two passports, I need
lies through trying times.
to arrange visas for the coun-
“I see this as the final chapter in
tries I am riding through. And in
my mum’s life, so while I’m look-
between that and my day job, I
Culdrose cares
ing forward to the challenge and
have to learn to ride off road and
looking forward to seeing different
learn basic mechanics.”
countries and different nations, I
The 42-year-old has clubbed
want to raise as much money as
together with three fellow racers to
for Carus
possible for other people in my
pay for a support driver/mechanic
mum’s name,” Mark explains.
(in this case experienced ex-endu-
CARUS is a slightly unwieldy half- into the air for medical transfer.
The result is the Paris-Dakar
ro racer Clive Dredge).
tonne Patagonian sea lion, and the We are told that despite his size, ● PO(Diver) Mark Jones prepares for Paris–Dakar
Heroes Legend race – “a bit of a
Picture: LA(Phot) Alex Cave
“When you have had ten to
kind-hearted fl iers of 750 Naval Carus is a gentle character, and
boy’s adventure, but with a seri-
14 hours in the saddle, you don’t
Air Squadron at Culdrose were the only aggressive thing about
ous side”.
ged English terrain – races which manually… and it’s in French.
want to be putting up your own
called to his aid. him is his fishy breath...
There’s nowhere in the UK
proved an eye-opener as after a There’s also GPS to keeps tabs
tent. Hopefully, it will be ready for
The 420kg seal was in urgent Once the lifting and shifting
which can prepare you for the
couple of hours in the saddle, he on too.
me at the end of each day.”
need of an operation, but it need- work was done, the expertise of
demands of the Sahara – the sec-
was “pole axed”. “You have to look at the road
Even when the race ends in
ed a bit of extra help to hoist him the local vet took over, and the
tion of the race which is both the
The real thing is even more ahead, keep track of the GPS and
Senegal, the adventure – and the
from his pool to his makeshift Naval aircrew retreated to the
most physically demanding and
demanding. Yes, there are 6,800km keep looking at the road book
spending – isn’t quite over. Mark’s
operating theatre at Gweek Seal Sanctuary’s café for a warming
potentially dangerous.
(4,225 miles) to cover in 14 days. – and remember to roll it along,”
bike will be shipped back (he
Sanctuary in Cornwall. cup of tea.
“Getting through the soft sand
Yes, there’s a lot of off-roading, says Mark. himself flies home from Dakar),
Ten staff and students from Operation complete, Carus was
of the desert really saps your
yes there’s desert. Keeping track of location is eventually arriving in Belgium…
RNAS Culdrose, including 750’s gently returned to his poolside
energy – it probably takes three
But that’s only half the story. crucial in the desert, as the road so he’ll have to cross the Channel
commanding officer Lt Cdr Bow home.
times the effort you need on hard Each stage of the race requires a book guides you to check points to collect it and ride it back to
Wheaton, helped to coax the sea Go to www.sealsanctuary.
ground,” says Mark. ‘road book’ – a small pictograph where you can refuel. Last year Devon.
lion into the cargo net then up co.uk to find out more.
The diver/biker has been prac- which fixes to the handlebar and one rider was lost for three days You can donate to the CJD
tising his off-road skills in ‘hare guides competitors around the in the Sahara. There is a ‘panic network via Mark’s website www.
and hounds’ races around the rug- course. It has to be rolled forward button’ – each bike is fitted with a justgiving.com/bikeforcjd.
Allies dig in to dig
Superb
WE RESCUE
out Churchtown
effort for
LIVES WRECKED
former
BY THE SEA
“When my husband and the crew of his
THE British and American navies
joined forces – as they are wont to
do – but not usually up their knees
in mud...
crewmate
fishing boat drowned, four families
were left to cope alone. With so
many worries adding to our
A team of 20 trainee sailors
MEMBERS of HMS Superb’s
sorrow, it was a grant from
from HMS Raleigh and 30 US
crew have raised £500 for one of the Shipwrecked Mariners
sailors from the Joint Maritime
their old shipmates. which helped us survive”.
Facility (JMF) at RAF St Mawgan
Carl Baller, a leading hand on
worked together at the Vitalise
the submarine, was diagnosed
Tragedy at sea can easily
Churchtown Centre in Lanlivery.
in February last year with acute overwhelm bereaved
Laying a wooden path, level-
myeloma.
ling the ground and clearing over-
families. The Shipwrecked
The past 12 months have seen
growth from a stream were among
him visit four hospitals, undergo
Mariners’ Society is here
the tasks tackled by the sailors
intensive chemo and radiotherapy, to help them rebuild their
from the US and UK – along with and become wheelchair bound.
lives. Every year we give
some RAF airmen also based at Carl is now in remission and in
JMF. the care of the Larkfield Unit of
over £1m in grants to the
The annual work day saw the Inverclyde Royal Hospital where dependants of those lost at sea,
centre’s staff and willing volun- he is undergoing a course of physi-
as well as sick, disabled and
teers complete some much-need- otherapy to get him back on his
ed maintenance and renovation.
retired seafarers struggling to make
feet.
The Churchtown activity centre WO Neil MacKinnon and PO
ends meet.
focuses on the needs of adults Brian Baldasara led the efforts on
and children with physical, sen- board the Swiftsure-class subma-
Please help us to rebuild shattered lives with a
sory and learning disabilities, and rine to raise money for the former legacy or donation. And if anyone you know needs our support,● US Navy and Royal Navy join forces to lay a path at Vitalise
each year closes for a month to Churchtown Centre in Lanlivery Picture: Dave Sherfield crewmember.
be sure and put them in touch with us.
allow for some repair and recon-
experience of the role they may be Sailors from HMS Raleigh are
A Thousand-Number Draw on
struction.
asked to fulfil in the future.” regular visitors to Churchtown
board the boat saw each number
HMS Raleigh’s commanding
officer, Capt Jonathan Woodcock,
Churchtown fundraiser Mick – the establishment adopted the
sold off for £1 each, and at the
Shipwrecked Mariners’ Society
said: “This is the third year that
Ryan said: “We are extremely activity centre as its nominated
suggestion of the CO, Cdr Steve
Dept NN, 1 North Pallant, Chichester PO19 1TL
we have joined forces with our
grateful for the continued gener- charity over 20 years ago.
Drysdale, £500 was ringfenced
American counterparts.
osity of the Royal Navy and Joint The centre provides year-
for Carl while the rest was split
Tel: 01243 789329 Fax: 01243 530853
into first, second and third prizes. e-mail: general@shipwreckedmariners.org.uk
“The Royal Navy are often
Maritime Facility personnel. round day services for adults with
Neil and Bryan visited their
called upon to provide humanitar-
“With a 12-acre site and physical and learning disabilities
website: www.shipwreckedmariners.org.uk
friend at the Greenock hospital
ian aid to local communities all
numerous buildings to upkeep, from the local area, with activi-
to present the cheque, which Carl
over the world – sailors can be
the centre would not be able to ties including swimming, wood-
plans to spend on an orthopaedic
Reg Charity No 212034
sent ashore to carry out tasks simi-
offer the much-needed breaks to work, music, arts and crafts. It
Inst. 1839
mattress to aid his recovery.
lar to that at Churchtown.
disabled people and their carers also offers week-long holidays for
Carl said: “I am just so touched
Shipwrecked
“Our sailors enjoy their work without the help and assistance disabled people and their carers. by this gift from my crewmates. It
at the centre, and this is a good of our many supporters in the Find out more online at www. means a huge amount to me and
Mariners’ Society
opportunity for them to gain some community.” vitalise.org.uk. my family.”
0019_NN_mar08.indd 119_NN_mar08.indd 1 118/2/08 16:46:038/2/08 16:46:03
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52