Latest news with #Commando
Leader Live
a day ago
- Health
- Leader Live
Clwydian Range hike carrying fridge freezer for Hope House
To honour a family bet made last year with Vicky, on Sunday May 31, Matt set off on a 70-mile hike across the Clwydian Range with a 90lb fridge freezer strapped to his back. Speaking of the incredible trek, ex-Marine Matt said: "I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to Commando training 23 years ago. "My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error. Support for Matt Jones during his children's hospice fundraiser. "In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice through our four children that was telling me: 'You've got this, be you'." Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, which has bases in Oswestry and Conwy, so Matt decided to start a tribute fund for the hospices in her memory and use the bet as a spur for fundraising. The bet came about last September when Matt was recovering in hospital after a total hip replacement operation. Read more: Matt said: "The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down. "Vicky was sat in the corner laughing whist telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'. "She then told the surgeon: 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back'. "I replied: 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. "Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said: 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'." Matt Jones during his fundraiser in memory of his wife Vicky. The 42-year-old, who keeps himself fit by playing rugby, added: "The wind on parts of the route made the fridge freezer like a sail. "With the team by my side, we didn't stop. By the three peaks at Moel Fferna, it was all or nothing. "The distance in this wasn't the issue, it was the 15,000ft of elevation. Read more: Optician Dawn set sights on half marathon charity fundraiser "We crossed Vivod as a team and came into Llangollen surrounded by family and friends with two hours to spare on our 36 hour limit. "This challenge was never about fitness. It was about honouring a promise to my kids and keeping Vicky's spirit alive. "Vicky's mantra was: 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you!'. "Thank you to everyone, family, friends, supporters, I could not have done it without you. Especially Rich, Rob and Simon - the best support and pitstop crew I could have asked for. Read more: Every moment matters - Wrexham hospice launch funding campaign "We raised a lot of money for Hope House and if it inspired you even a little bit, then we've done our job." Hope House Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer, said: "Wow! We are lost for words with Matt and his team's effort. "What an incredible challenge and the most beautiful of tributes to Vicky and example to his children who must be extremely proud. Read more: Man living with condition urges people to join him at Wrexham's Walk for Parkinson's "It's an amazing amount of money that has been raised and will go directly to providing free professional nursing and respite care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition. "Thank you so much to everyone involved and to those who have so kindly donated and supported Matt with this unbelievable challenge" • It's not too late if you would like to donate, visit online at: You can follow Matt on social media: Instagram: @fridge_freezer_man or Facebook: Fridge freezer man
Wales Online
a day ago
- Health
- Wales Online
'My whole body was screaming but I'd bet my late wife I'd do it'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A man has slogged 70 miles over the mountains of Denbighshire with a 90lb fridge freezer strapped to his back. Former Royal Marine commando Matt Jones took on the 'idiot' challenge to honour a bet made with his late wife. En route he walked the 35-mile Llangollen Round, an event held every three years that climbs more than 7,500ft through the Dee Valley. Unlike other participants, he did it twice, completing the trek in 34 hours. Driving him on were the words of his wife Vicky, who died just before Christmas. He said: 'I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to Commando training 23 years ago. 'My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error. In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice through our four children that was telling me, 'You've got this, be you'.' As Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, which have bases in Oswestry and Conwy, Matt launched a tribute fund in her memory. The idea of the freezer challenge came about when Matt was recovering in hospital after a total hip replacement operation last September. In a moment of bravado, the building firm boss found himself striking a bet with his wife. He explained: 'The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down. Vicky was sat in the corner laughing whilst telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'." Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community (Image: Tyn Dwr Hall) Matt continued: 'She then told the surgeon, 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back!' 'I replied, 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said, 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'.' Terrain on the Llangollen Round includes open moorland, limestone grassland, woodland and an ancient green road. Also on the route is Telford's World Heritage site Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Matt, a 42-year-old father of four who keeps himself fit by playing rugby, said the distance was less of an issue than the 15,000ft in elevation gain. Despite hours of training – including sandbag squats in his kitchen – he admitted to being 'nervous and slightly scared' of failing to finish. Along the way he was backed by family, friends and a support crew. After pushing too hard on the first 20km he 'nearly blew a fuse'. At one point he had to return home because 'my body was shutting down', putting the entire challenge in jeopardy. (Image: Matt Jones) In the early hours of the morning, after three hours of sleep, he got going again. He said: 'The wind on parts of the route made the fridge freezer like a sail. By the three peaks at Moel Fferna, it was all or nothing. 'We crossed Vivod as a team and came into Llangollen surrounded by family and friends with two hours to spare on our 36-hour limit. This challenge was never about fitness. It was about honouring a promise to my kids and keeping Vicky's spirit alive. 'Her mantra was, 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you!'' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the end of his heavyweight trek, Matt had raised £50,000 for his local children's hospice. Hope House Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said it had been an 'unbelievable challenge'. 'Wow! We are lost for words with Matt and his team's effort,' she said. 'What an incredible challenge - the most beautiful of tributes to Vicky and an example to his children, who must be extremely proud.' 'It's an amazing amount of money and it will go directly to providing free professional nursing and respite care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition.' It's not too late to donate by clicking here. Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
a day ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
'My whole body was screaming but I'd bet my late wife I'd do it'
A man has slogged 70 miles over the mountains of Denbighshire with a 90lb fridge freezer strapped to his back. Former Royal Marine commando Matt Jones took on the 'idiot' challenge to honour a bet made with his late wife. En route he walked the 35-mile Llangollen Round, an event held every three years that climbs more than 7,500ft through the Dee Valley. Unlike other participants, he did it twice, completing the trek in 34 hours. Driving him on were the words of his wife Vicky, who died just before Christmas. He said: 'I had to go deeper than ever before and take myself back to Commando training 23 years ago. 'My whole body was screaming, and I hit breaking point early on after a fuelling error. In the toughest moments, it was Vicky's voice through our four children that was telling me, 'You've got this, be you'.' As Vicky had been a passionate supporter of Hope House Tŷ Gobaith children's hospices, which have bases in Oswestry and Conwy, Matt launched a tribute fund in her memory. The idea of the freezer challenge came about when Matt was recovering in hospital after a total hip replacement operation last September. In a moment of bravado, the building firm boss found himself striking a bet with his wife. He explained: 'The surgeon was telling me I had to slow down. Vicky was sat in the corner laughing whilst telling the surgeon, 'You might as well talk to a brick wall'." Matt continued: 'She then told the surgeon, 'Knowing this idiot he will try and complete it again with a fridge on his back!' 'I replied, 'I will do it twice, with a fridge freezer on my back'. Smiling and laughing whist shaking her head, Vicky said, 'You've got yourself a bet Mr Jones'.' Terrain on the Llangollen Round includes open moorland, limestone grassland, woodland and an ancient green road. Also on the route is Telford's World Heritage site Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Matt, a 42-year-old father of four who keeps himself fit by playing rugby, said the distance was less of an issue than the 15,000ft in elevation gain. Despite hours of training – including sandbag squats in his kitchen – he admitted to being 'nervous and slightly scared' of failing to finish. Along the way he was backed by family, friends and a support crew. After pushing too hard on the first 20km he 'nearly blew a fuse'. At one point he had to return home because 'my body was shutting down', putting the entire challenge in jeopardy. In the early hours of the morning, after three hours of sleep, he got going again. He said: 'The wind on parts of the route made the fridge freezer like a sail. By the three peaks at Moel Fferna, it was all or nothing. 'We crossed Vivod as a team and came into Llangollen surrounded by family and friends with two hours to spare on our 36-hour limit. This challenge was never about fitness. It was about honouring a promise to my kids and keeping Vicky's spirit alive. 'Her mantra was, 'You are the only you, own it, rock it, feel it, embrace it, love it, and be it… be you!'' Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox By the end of his heavyweight trek, Matt had raised £50,000 for his local children's hospice. Hope House Tŷ Gobaith fundraiser Vicky Bradbeer said it had been an 'unbelievable challenge'. 'Wow! We are lost for words with Matt and his team's effort,' she said. 'What an incredible challenge - the most beautiful of tributes to Vicky and an example to his children, who must be extremely proud.' 'It's an amazing amount of money and it will go directly to providing free professional nursing and respite care to local children and families living with a life-threatening condition.' It's not too late to donate by clicking here.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow
ELITE Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed. Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a 2 Elite Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed 2 Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin. The Navy said: 'The haul came to 1,000kg heroin, 660kg hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine – worth an estimated £30m on UK streets.' The crew of the frigate The warship remained hidden beyond the horizon for over 24 hours before closing in on the dhow and scrambling its boarding teams in fast attack boats and launching the Wildcat helicopter. Read More on UK News The Navy said it 'pounced on a drug runner in the Middle East' during the daring High Seas mission. It said: 'After secretly shadowing the suspect through the Arabian Sea for more than 24 hours, frigate HMS Lancaster struck by sea and air to bring the dhow's voyage to a halt. 'Under the watchful gaze of a Royal Marines sniper circling overhead in the frigate's Wildcat helicopter, the boarding team of 42 Commando closed on the vessel in a pincer movement.' Commander Chris Chew, the ship's captain, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets.' Most read in The Sun Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hailed the 200 strong crew for a 'significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets'. Oliver Harvey investigates the use of a drug smuggling submarine's journey from South America to Spain The warship was serving as part of a taskforce led by New Zealand's Navy to 'disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations' by seizing drugs, guns and illicit goods at sea. Commodore Rodger Ward, the Kiwi commander, hailed the 'tenacity, training and professionalism' of the Royal Navy.
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow
The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin 'SIGNIFICANT SEIZURE' Elite Royal Marines pose with £30m worth of seized illegal drugs after storming smuggler's dhow ELITE Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed. Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter. Advertisement 2 Elite Royal Marines stormed a smuggler's dhow and seized £30 million worth of drugs, it has been revealed 2 Commandos boarded the vessel under the gaze of a Royal Marine sniper who circled overhead in a Royal Navy Wildcat helicopter The troops found 80 bags of illegal drugs including a tonne of heroin. The Navy said: 'The haul came to 1,000kg heroin, 660kg hashish, and 6kg of amphetamine – worth an estimated £30m on UK streets.' The crew of the frigate HMS Lancaster had tracked the dhow with Peregrine spy drones – mini helicopters – as it crossed the Arabian Gulf towards Africa. The warship remained hidden beyond the horizon for over 24 hours before closing in on the dhow and scrambling its boarding teams in fast attack boats and launching the Wildcat helicopter. Advertisement The Navy said it 'pounced on a drug runner in the Middle East' during the daring High Seas mission. It said: 'After secretly shadowing the suspect through the Arabian Sea for more than 24 hours, frigate HMS Lancaster struck by sea and air to bring the dhow's voyage to a halt. 'Under the watchful gaze of a Royal Marines sniper circling overhead in the frigate's Wildcat helicopter, the boarding team of 42 Commando closed on the vessel in a pincer movement.' Commander Chris Chew, the ship's captain, said: 'This is another example of where Lancaster has delivered at range, in isolation, utilising her own organic assets.' Advertisement Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard hailed the 200 strong crew for a 'significant seizure, which is keeping dangerous and illegal drugs off our streets'. Oliver Harvey investigates the use of a drug smuggling submarine's journey from South America to Spain The warship was serving as part of a taskforce led by New Zealand's Navy to 'disrupt criminal and terrorist organizations' by seizing drugs, guns and illicit goods at sea. Commodore Rodger Ward, the Kiwi commander, hailed the 'tenacity, training and professionalism' of the Royal Navy. Opium poppies are farmed in Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan processed into heroin and shipped across the Arabian Gulf for transit into Europe.
