Were You There?
Do You Have A Friend Or Relative Who Was There?
Late in the evening of 5th June 1944 six Halifax bombers took off from Tarrant Rushton in Dorset in southern England each towing a large glider packed with men from the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry plus Royal Engineers and other specialists.
Their task was to take and hold two bridges, now known as Pegasus and Horsa, across the Caen Canal at Benoville and the River Orne at Ranville, some 2 miles from the Normandy beaches. This was the first objective to be taken prior to the landing of British, Canadian and American forces the next day. Without these bridges in British hands the invasion would have a much more difficult time.
Few of those men are still alive. To honour them Project 65 is taking 199 runners from Tarrant Rushton via Portsmouth to Pegasus Bridge. I'm booked to be one of those 199 runners.
Starting at 2pm on 4th June 2009 we will run 65 miles and each of us is expected to raise at least £1000 with an overall target of £500 000 to be shared among 6 charities supporting ex-HM Forces members, The Royal British Legion, RAF Benevolent Fund, Army Benevolent Fund, BLESMA, St Dunstan's and Help for Heroes.
The magnesium I need arrived today, the glucosamine is already here, training starts next Monday. Can a 62 year old man who hasn't run since August 1991 really run 65 miles? If anybody can, it's me, David Hands.
Visit www.project65.net to see the full story and come back here to view "A Really Good Run".
