THREE former Melksham army cadets paid a visit to their former detachment to make a donation of over £400 after completing an epic challenge.
The Melksham detachment reports, “We recently welcomed back three former cadets who all left around 10 years ago; Rob McKelvey, Matt Painter, and Thomas Pritchard. The three former cadets, who are still good friends, explained they and another former cadet, Ryan Abbot (who couldn’t make the visit) had recently completed the Welsh 3000s challenge – a challenge that requires a person to have been at the top of all 15 of the mountains over 3,000 ft in Wales, within the space of 24 hours, without using any form of transport – to raise money for the Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance and Wiltshire Army Cadet Force.
“The former cadets explained that their friend Jack Land who was a cadet alongside them at Melksham detachment, and since progressed to be an adult instructor in Wiltshire ACF, was involved in a major car accident a few years ago and was rescued by Dorset & Somerset Air Ambulance.
“The four friends decided to set out on the challenge to raise money for the air ambulance to say thank you for helping to save their friend’s life and to give something back to the organisation that provided them with some amazing experiences growing up as well as the friendship that has lasted almost 15 years to date.
“After presenting a cheque for £418.50 to Cdt Cpl Shore at Melksham detachment, the former cadets spoke with the cadets of today and explained how much they enjoyed their time in the ACF and how they remain close today to the friends they originally made whilst they were cadets themselves.”
