Soldiers in Chinook challenge 07.11.11
8Soldiers from 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) have pulled an RAF Chinook one kilometre at Camp Bastion Airfield in Helmand, Afghanistan. Seventeen soldiers including four women pulled the 16 tonne aircraft down the runway to raise funds for the Royal British Legion and the Mayor of Bath's Relief Fund. The team completed the challenge in 12 minutes and 59 seconds, more than twice as fast as they had been hoping for, raising more than $2,000. Soldiers fro the regiment are deployed in two roles in Afghanistan. Most are part of the 275-strong Campaign Signal Regiment, providing communications and computer networks to British Forces across Afghanistan with a sizeable element supporting Camp Souter in Kabul. The other element is C Troop, which is deployed in support of the Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan) headquarters, in the Regiment's traditional role. The soldiers taking part in the 'pull' were primarily from the Helmand based squadron. The event has been orchestrated by Corporal Darren Norton 31, from Colerne,. He said: "The Regiment has completed a number of charity events now, so the real challenge was finding something new to do! Obviously we have good reason to support a charity like the Royal British Legion, but it's also good to put something back into the local community. The Mayor of Bath's Relief Fund seemed like an excellent way to do that. The regiment has raised more than £13,500 for a multitude of charities over their five and a half month tour. 21st Signal Regiment (Air Support) are due to return home in November following a five and a half month tour of Afghanistan and will march through Bath on 23 November 2011 after they receive the Freedom of Bath and as part of their homecoming celebrations.