Salman Shamim, Key Account Manager at Corps Security, has been pounding the pavements as he prepares for the Leeds Half Marathon, on May 10. He’s doing it to raise funds for the Gurkha Welfare Trust.
He will shirk the shorts and singlet as worn by most runners, for the traditional, military style uniform as worn by Corps staff in The Corps of Commissionaires days. Known among staff as the ‘Full Shout’ uniform, the Corps says it’s still very much part of its identity.
This will not be the first time that Salman has run in this attire, having completed a 5k (3.1 miles) event two years ago. He says: ‘Last time the biggest challenge was definitely the heat combined with a uniform that was never really designed to cope with running conditions. This time I felt it only right to increase the personal challenge, hence I am doing a half marathon which will mean running 13.1 miles. This will take me just over two hours and although I’m sure that the latter part of the race will be testing, the thought of raising as much money as I can for the Gurkha Welfare Trust will keep me going.’
The Gurkha Welfare Trust provides financial, medical and community aid to nearly 7000 retired soldiers and widows in Nepal who have no other form of income. Most are now in their 80s and 90s and rely on support in old age. Salman adds: ‘2015 marks the bicentennial of loyal Gurkha service to the British Crown. I’m incredibly lucky to work with a number of fantastic Gurkha colleagues at Corps Security and therefore proud to do my small bit at a time of such significance. The recent traumatic earthquakes in Nepal have obviously exacerbated the problem – which has given me added impetus to achieve my goal’.
To donate – visit his JustGiving page at www.justgiving.com/SalmanShamim.
