Soldier raises money for fallen colleagues' families
27 Nov 09
An Army Physical Training Instructor has rowed, run and cycled the equivalent of over 250 miles (402km) and lifted the weight of two tanks to raise money for the families of soldiers who have been killed on operations.
Staff Sergeant Gareth Heycock doing one of his many deadlifts
[Picture: Corproral Adrian Harlen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Staff Sergeant Gareth Heycock, aged 36, from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment (2 RTR), took two days to complete the testing 'Cambrai Challenge' in the Aliwal Gymnasium in Tidworth.
He finished the physical test on Friday 20 November 2009, the 92nd anniversary of the Battle of Cambrai - the battle honour which is celebrated by the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment every year since the battle was fought by the Tank Corps in November and December 1917.
He undertook the challenge to raise money for the families of soldiers in the regiment who have been killed. He said:
"It was very challenging despite me doing four months' training. The row was the most difficult part and at one point I had to stop and get off the machine because of cramp.
"I've had fantastic support from the regiment, some came in to watch and chat, others rowed or cycled alongside me which helped a lot. What kept me going was looking across at the photos of the guys from 2 RTR who've lost their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq."
SSgt Heycock divided the challenge into two parts, based on the regimental history of the Battle of Cambrai.
The first involved him running, rowing and cycling the 269.5 miles (433.7km) between Cambrai and Tidworth. The second part consisted of a combination of deadlifts and bench presses to lift a total of 56.8 tonnes, the weight of two Mark IV tanks.
Staff Sergeant Gareth Heycock pulling back for another mile on a rowing machine
[Picture: Corproral Adrian Harlen, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]