The Baton Run has a purpose, The Baton is asking society to remember the freedoms we all enjoy and the effects of defending them on service personnel and their families.
What better place to start than inside a C17 of 99 Squadron RAF RAF Brize Norton who amongst other roles have the task of repatriating those killed in action and our wounded, their injuries life changing, the long term effects shared by many families.
Finishing at the National Memorial Arboretum is so apt with over 16,000 names on the walls of those killed in action since WW2 on the magnificent Armed Forces Memorial, where a cheque was handed over from the Baton to Katy Woolley NMA Fundraising Officer.
After running out of RAF Brize Norton the team laid a wreath at the Repatriation Memorial Garden, Carterton and then ran on to lay a wreath with Burford’s Town Mayor John White at the Burford War Memorial. After running through the night in relay the team laid a wreath at the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum.
As usual the team made the 110 mile run work finishing in record time and it really is a team effort, the runners can’t achieve their part without the support crews who drive the team all night keeping the runners safe.
Nigel Fowler and Dave Vaughan gave the usual comprehensive support by taking photos recording our priceless memories and relief driver Gordon Kemp who came up from Taunton to the NMA especially to drive the Crew Bus back safely – everyone involved is a vital element.
Our grateful thanks to Station Commander RAF RAF Brize Norton, Andy Summers Land Rover Experience West Country for the Safety Car and for fuelling it for the whole run and to To-An-Fro for the consideration on price for the Crew Bus
One image shows the Baton pointing to an RAF panel. This was done as a mark of respect for the Hercules crew that were tragically lost in action in Iraq 2005. Sgt Bob O’Connor is the brother of Baton supporter Sarah O’Connor – more can be read about this tragic loss of life at www.gov.uk/gove…/fatalities/squadron-leader-patrick-marshall
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