Derriford Trio’s Arctic Success

A tri-service team of military junior doctors from Derriford Hospital have returned home safely after completing the gruelling Rovaniemi 150 ultra-marathon in Lapland, and raising close to £6,000 for Combat Stress in the process.

Flight Lieutenant Michael Thompson (Royal Air Force), Surgeon Lieutenant Alex Bamford (Royal Navy) and Captain George Graham (British Army) braved the 150 kilometre course in sub-zero conditions.

Surgeon Lieutenant Alex Bamford held bragging rights with an impressive finishing time of 25 hours 55 minutes, the second best finishing time by foot. Flight Lieutenant Thompson and Captain George Graham finished in equal sixth place, with a finishing time of 34 hours 20 minutes.

Upon his return, Flight Lieutenant Thompson said: “We hope that we have raised some awareness for the fantastic and essential work carried out by Combat Stress. They simply couldn't do what they do without the generosity of the Great British public and overseas donors.” More information on Combat Stress can be found at www.combatstress.org.uk

The trio have expressed deep gratitude for the generosity that they have been shown and would still greatly welcome any further donations, via their justgiving page: www.justgiving.com/TEAMS/ARCTIC-ULTRA.

Flight Lieutenant Thompson has provided an in-depth personal account of the experience, which can be found here.