Nat's capital run for Royal Marines families

All smiles… AB Natalie Ashman prepares to set off on a 13-mile slog around the capital for the Royal Marines Charity.

The junior rating was one of 10,000 runners pounding the city’s streets for the London Landmarks Half Marathon – in her case to raise money for the Royal Marines Charity.

Joining Natalie, who serves at the headquarters of the EU Naval Force, on the start line for a spot of moral support was PO(PT) ‘Ronnie’ Barker, also based at Northwood (and seen in the selfie in the bright yellow top).

The run, which begins in Whitehall and ends at Downing Street, takes in some of the city’s greatest sights – Trafalgar Square, the Royal Courts of Justice, St Paul’s, the Bank of England, the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.

More importantly, Natalie smashed her personal best by 15 minutes, crossing the finishing line in 2h 17m 14s… and hit her £515 target for the charity… aided by a donation from the head of the Corps (and Commanding Officer of the EUNAVFOR mission) Major General Charlie Stickland.

Natalie chose the RMC as her cause after the charity helped her while serving with 45 Commando… where she was also introduced to the world of RM ‘phys’.

“I wanted to give back to a great charity that really does make a difference, I have seen it with my own eyes,” she said.

“Working with Royal Marines changed my outlook and mindset towards life and I will never be able to thank them enough.

“They have always been the first to understand, first to adapt and respond and the first to overcome – that’s the Commando mindset but today Royal Marines and their families are fighting battles they cannot win alone.”