Sea Cadets raising funds with endurance challenges after being targeted by alleged criminals

Sea Cadets Hebburn and Sunderland, based at the Mountbatten Memorial Building in Prince Consort Road, Hebburn, are being joined by as many as 100 others from across the organisation in their fundraising efforts.

The group is hoping to raise £16,158.90 in order to purchase a rigid inflatable boat (RIB).

Organiser Clare Towns said the fundraiser comes after the Sea Cadets’ premises fell victim to criminals on a number of occasions, leaving the organisation in a difficult financial position.

"We’ve had a lot of bad luck recently,” she said.

"Just recently, we set up a GoFundMe page because someone had stolen our minibus wheels. And then, not long after that, someone broke into our premises and tried to steal some boats.

"So this is the biggest challenge that the group has faced financially for a very long time.”

Volunteers are taking on a number of different challenges as their contribution to the case.

Paul Towns and his son, Keiran, will ride a 137-mile-long coast-to-coast cycle route - traversing the Lake District, the Pennines and Durham before returning to Tyneside.

Coxswain Derek Brown will row the length of the River Tyne as part of his contribution to the collective fundraising effort.

Meanwhile, Arron Hyde will complete the national ‘three peaks challenge’, which will see him scale the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales – Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon – in under 24 hours.

His partner, Anna Shields, will also attempt to conquer the three mountains. The pair hope to record their effort using a drone, so that supporters can follow their efforts virtually from the comfort of their own sofa.

Saqarra Jansson will attempt to complete the three peaks challenge as well as aiming to beat her ‘personal best’ half-marathon time in this year’s installment of the Great North Run.

More information about the Hebburn and Sunderland Sea Cadets, and how to help, can be found on the unit’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/HebburnSunderlandSeaCadetsTsKelly .

Enjoy unlimited access to local news, the latest football stories and new puzzles every day.

With a digital subscription, you can see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Click here to subscribe.