Welcome

Hi, welcome to our blog in which we aim to tell you all about our challenge: who we are, what we are attempting to do and why we are doing it (I've been asking myself that question for a while now!).

So, who are we?  We are all members of the Airborne Trials Section at the Joint Air Delivery Test and Evaluation Unit (JADTEU) based at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire.  Our job basically is to test and evaluate new military parachuting equipment before it is allowed to be used "in anger".  There are 11 of us in total, 9 RAF and 2 Army.  We have 9 test parachutists, 1 Safety Equipment Fitter and 1 Medic.

And what are we trying to do?  We are attempting to cycle from John O’Groats to Lands End in a continuous relay in under 99 hours.  This, as you'll probably agree, is no easy feat in itself.  However to make it a real challenge, we also aim to ascend and descend the three highest Peaks in the United Kingdom: Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mt Snowdon, en route.  To make this event even more challenging, one of our team members will be riding solo, direct from John O’Groats to Lands End, trying to beat the rest of the team to the finish.

The format of the Challenge will be quite straight forward.  Teams of 2 or 3 will cycle for 1-2 hours at a time in relay.  On arrival at each Peak all 9 members of the main team will ascend and descend the mountain together, then continue to cycle in relay to the next peak.  Cycling will be a continuous relay from start to finish with no stopping apart from the changeover of cyclists.

The challenge is going to start from John O’Groats on the 20 Jun 11 and we are hoping for significant media coverage. 

We are hoping to raise as much as we can for 3 charities.  All donations received from this challenge will be donated to the following charities: The Royal British Legion, The Army Benevolent Fund and The Parachute Jump Instructor Benevolent Fund, with funds raised being split 60% / 20% / 20%. 

Please go to http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/team/ATSChallenge to see our fundraising page and to make a donation.  Alternatively, you can send a cheque payable to "Service Funds RAF Brize Norton" to:  OC ATS, JADTEU, RAF Brize Norton, Carterton, Oxon, OX18 3LX.