Adam Elcock takes on Charity Challenge as Pilgrims Bandits named Bournemouth Rugby’s Charity of the Year
In its forthcoming 125th anniversary year (2017/2018), Bournemouth Rugby is delighted to welcome Elcock Associates, an independent, Christchurch-based practice of Chartered Building & Quantity Surveyors, Architectural Designers and Construction Consultancy, as a key Senior Team and shirt sponsor for the Club.
The sponsorship coincides with the naming of the Pilgrims Bandits Charity – also supported by Elcock Associates - as Bournemouth Rugby’s Charity of the Year. Established ten years ago by a small group of Special Forces veterans, Pilgrims Bandits uses the unique training and experience of its founders to help and inspire wounded soldiers and members of the Emergency services to take part in expeditions that restore self-confidence and instil self-belief.
Adam Elcock, Managing Director at Elcock Associates is currently fundraising for Pilgrims Bandits with a £5k target, by taking part in two expeditions: first, the Pilgrims Bandits expedition to re-trace the steps of Operation Frankton, a daring commando raid on shipping in the German occupied French port of Bordeaux in the Bay of Biscay during the Second World War. Adam’s 85 mile journey by kayak retraces the route of the ‘Cockleshell Heroes’ who paddled six canoes by night up the infamous Gironde River to Bordeaux, where they attacked the docked cargo ships with limpet mines and escaped overland to Spain. It was a mission Winston Churchill believed shortened World War II by six months and one Admiral Louis Mountbatten deemed "the most courageous and imaginative of all the raids ever carried out by the men of Combined Operations."
Adam will then complete an unaided climb of Mont Blanc – at 4,808m the highest mountain in Western Hemisphere - which he was previously forced to abandon due to severe weather conditions at 4,000m’s. Adam said: “Weather will not stop me from summiting this mountain and I will continue to climb until I’ve completed the challenge. Taking the charity's mantra, ‘Always a little further’, we will complete this journey and help raise valuable sponsorship for this great charity’.
James Croker, CEO at Bournemouth Rugby said: “The team values of Pilgrims Bandits are very similar to our own rugby values, so there was no hesitation when it came to naming them as our Charity of the Year next season. As a sponsor of our Club, Adam’s inspired expeditions bring the Charity’s work to life, and we support him 100%.”
Deborah Risbridger from Pilgrim Bandits said: “Elcock Associates have been an amazing support to Pilgrim Bandits in both fundraising and spreading the word about the work Pilgrim Bandits do. Nominating Pilgrim Bandits as the charity for Bournemouth Rugby is just another example of how Adam goes above and beyond. Thank you on behalf of all our injured and the team at Pilgrim Bandits.”
All the money Adam raises will go directly to Pilgrims Bandits, since he has self-funded both trips. To donate, click the link: http://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/elcock
