SERIOUSLY injured Afghanistan veteran Royal Marine Mark Ormrod will be supporting a spectacular celebration of the Corps 350th birthday in Gibraltar this month.

With a sell-out Gala Cocktail Reception the Convent on October 25, a fabulous Royal Marines Band Concert in St Michael’s Cave on 26th October and a celebration charity Rock Run and Postal Walk taking place this is planned to be a weekend to remember. 

Triple-amputee Mark, from Plymouth, is due to help the infamous gruelling Rock Run – a Royal Naval tradition – a running race up to the summit of Gibraltar.

The organiser, Alan Hardy said: “With almost two years planning behind us for this very special occasion the Royal Marines 350th Birthday Celebrations are going to be magnificent and will not only reinforce the long standing history the Corps has with Gibraltar, but also raise funds for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund. With support from His Excellency the Governor of Gibraltar we have organised a fantastic weekend of fun and celebrations for participants in the Run from the UK and USA, but also for the locals of Gibraltar.”

On Sunday 26 October in St Michael’s Cave, the Band of Her Majesty’s Royal Marines will be performing an exclusive concert. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the world famous band in concert in the iconic Cave.

From 8pm the Royal Marines Band Scotland will entertain a capacity audience with a music and visual extravaganza in aid of the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Tickets are now on sale at the Reception Office, John Mackintosh Hall and on-line at www.rmctf.org and cost £20 which is inclusive of return transfers from Marketplace and bottom Cable Car Station.

Entries are now being taken for a unique Rock Run to celebrate the 350th anniversary of the formation of the Royal Marines.

On Saturday, October 25 from 0930 Casemates Square will see the forming-up and warming-up of up to 200 runners from the UK, USA and Gibraltar – whilst at the same time being entertained by the Band of the Royal Marines.

Alongside the Rock Run will be a Postal Walk in which families and groups as well as individuals are being sought to walk 1,664 yards (1664 being the year the Royal Marines were formed) from John Mackintosh Square finishing at Casemates – with a prize for the Best Dressed young ‘Marine’.

This weekend is not only about celebrating 350 years of the Royal Marines, we are hoping to raise over £100,000 for the Corps’ own charity, the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

For former Royal Marine Mark Ormrod, who will be attending the weekend celebrations and taking part in the start of the rock run, the charity has been a lifeline.

He said: “On Christmas Eve 2007 whilst out on foot patrol in Afghanistan I stepped on a buried landmine causing me to lose both my legs above the knee and my arm above the elbow. Since having my sockets fitted 3 ½ years ago, I had lost a lot of weight, and my then current sockets did not fit resulting in chafing and a slight increase in pain meaning that I was off my legs a little bit more than I would have liked.

“As a severely injured & highly active amputee it is critical to receive the highest level of prosthetic care available to enable me to have a full time job, be a full time father and husband and to be able to live my life in comfort and ease.

"With the help & support of the RMCTF I have been able to be fitted with the best prosthetic technology available in the world & because of that I am able to be fully independent and live as close to an ordinary life as possible, both myself & my family are extremely grateful.”

"It's a huge honour for me to be invited out to Gibraltar and to be involved in the Rock Run. If nothing else I hope by being there I can show the RMCTF's generous supporters where a large percentage of the money they raise is spent.

"I'm just one of many wounded, injured & sick Royal Marines and I hope I can say on behalf of all of us that the support is hugely appreciated."