SKI CHALLENGE IN MEMORY OF ROYAL MARINE HERO

Former Royal Marine Liam Taylor from Buxton and his friend have completed a unique and intense challenge to raise funds for Help for Heroes, in memory of Liam’s younger brother.  Scott Taylor, who was also a Royal Marine, was killed in an explosion in Afghanistan in 2010, when he just 21 years old. Liam and family friend Jon Towell completed a marathon, but on a piece of gym equipment called a Concept 2 Ski Erg, which is basically a training tool for cross-country skiers. 

Liam said, “As a group of family and friends we’ve raised money for the Charity in Scott’s memory for the past 14 years. The cross-country skiing was Jon’s crazy idea. It was tough, because you have to use muscles in your back, arms and shoulders as well as your legs, but we wanted a challenge. I’m not sure if anyone has ever done this kind of distance before on this type of equipment."

To get themselves ready for their gruelling fundraising challenge, Liam and Jon trained for over two months after work, two or three nights a week in order to complete the 42,195 metre distance in under four hours. 

Liam added: "We’ve both got experience of endurance sports though and have been working hard to build up our strength and stamina.  One of big our worries was getting blisters on our hands.” 

Liam was himself serving in Afghanistan when his brother was killed and travelled back to the UK with Scott’s body. He says that the image of his brother’s coffin on the plane was all the motivation he needed to keep going. Liam was recently interviewed by BBC Radio Derby about his brother and the fundraising challenge. He said: “Scotty loved his family and lit up the room with his smile.

He had a wicked sense of humour and was loyal, caring and brave, never showing pain. He has left a void in everyone's lives who knew him that can never be filled. I still keep in touch with a lot of the people he served with.” 

Scott’s family and friends have so far raised £49,000 for the Charity in his memory over the past 14 years, and are hoping that this latest challenge will take them over the £50,000 mark.