A team of Army personnel from JHQ based UKSC and RSU raised over €7,000 for Diabetes UK when they cycled over 742km from JHQ to Zurich.

The team, including event organiser Staff Sergeant Chris Kirkwood, left Rheindahlen on July 12 after a departure ceremony outside the Big House with honorary guest and official starter Maj Gen Nick Caplin, GOC UKSC.

The team then cycled for five days before arriving at the finish point, Zurich, on July 16.

Chris decided to support Diabetes UK after he and Lt Col Mark Johnson-Ferguson were both diagnosed with diabetes Type 1 three years ago.

The team soon found themselves going through a gruelling training programme during their lunch hours and Friday afternoons in order to prepare for the physical and mental challenge that lay ahead.

On completing the cycle, Chris, a Chief Clerk attached to UKSC in Germany, said: “The cycle ride went extremely well, albeit by the end of the second day the less experienced cyclists were very tired from the arduous ride.

“We endured a lot of hot weather, hills that seemed to go on forever and uncomfortable nights from the aches and pains.”

On a lighter note, Lt Col Mark Johnson-Ferguson and WO1 Des Lynham must be congratulated for falling off their bikes at traffic lights and junctions without fail at least once a day, or more – due to not un-clipping their shoes.

He continued: “We are all extremely proud of our efforts and could not have done it without the back up support team who made the event run smoothly.

“We are all grateful to every­one who sponsored us to help raise monies for Diabetes UK.”

Chris, 46, and married to Sarah with two sons has been fund raising for Diabetes UK since he was diagnosed with the condition.

An experienced cyclist, Chris has already completed two fundraising trips from London to the Eiffel Tower, in 2008 and from Gütersloh to Berlin in 2009 raising a staggering £22,500 for the charity.

In the UK one person is diagnosed with diabetes every three minutes and three people die of the resulting complications of the disease every hour.

In BFG alone, Diabetes affects nearly 200 people of which 40 are serving soldiers. Diabetes is a life long condition for which there is presently no cure. If the condition is not managed properly it has long term effects on health and is a major cause of blindness within the UK.

There are approximately two million diabetics in the UK with a further suspected one million sufferers who have not yet been diagnosed.

Diabetes UK is the charity for people who have Diabetes, their families, friends and carers. Their mission is to improve the lives of people with the condition and to work towards a future without the disease.

Donations from the public are vital in maintaining the work that Diabetes UK does for the diabetic community.

Please dig deep and donate to the Boys and their cycling crusade.

Sponsorship can be made directly through SSgt Kirkwood or through their Just Giving Web Page www.justgiving.com/Ex-Zurich-Crusade which will remain active until October 12.

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The Army Rugby 7’s Team came to JHQ recently for a week’s intensive training in preparation for the Middlesex 7’s, a very prestigious event that raises money for various charities including Help For Heroes.

Team manager, Capt John Voss, from 104 Bn REME in Hampshire, said that the team came to Germany because of the excellent training facilities provided over here and that they would spend the week getting into shape since they will soon be up against various international teams.

He said “We are determined that we can take on these premiership and professional teams and our aim is to win. We strive to be the best amateur team in the world.”

The Army 7’s team consists of Fijean and South African soldiers, some of whom are just back from Afghanistan, and some who are preparing to go.

Capetown-born Skipper, Gerhard Wessers, said that it had been a positive week of strenuous work: “We’ve been training hard, I think we’re just right where we want to be. The team members have been very disciplined, training hard and avoiding late nights and drinking. We need to focus and then after the tournament we can party.”

And Gerhard was feeling very confident: “We have improved all season and are on the up-climb and hopefully at Twickenham we will play our best.”

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As part of Service Children’s Education’s Big Arts Week A Strictly Come Dancing opportunity was held ?at Windsor School.

Gifted and talented dancers from all of the local SCE primary schools and one local German School spent a whole day dancing on June 21.

A panel of SCE judges decided upon St Andrews as overall winners with Will Betts and Holly Smith, both Year 6, taking the prize.

HQ SCE Staff champions were Sue Tabor and Phil Wiggetts.

Marc Reinecke from the Tanz Schule Krüger in Celle instructed the students and staff in the ballroom dance steps as most of the pupils had never danced ballroom before.

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