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Royal Navy Commando leads bid to run around the world
16 December 2025
A serving Navy Commando today set off on a record-breaking bid to run around the world on foot.
Endurance athlete Fred Stokes is leading the Earthstrider bid as he set off from the iconic Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge in Scotland.
Earthstrider is a 16,400-mile global run that will span up to two and a half years, crossing Europe, the Middle East, Australasia, North America, South America, Iceland and back into Europe.
If successful, 31-year-old Fred, who is taking a sabbatical from his day job, will become the youngest person ever to circumnavigate the planet on foot - a feat accredited by the World Runners Association.
Fred, an experienced submariner, officer and ultra-runner, is taking on this unprecedented challenge to push the limits of human endurance while raising vital funds for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity, which supports serving personnel, veterans, and naval families for life.
“I wanted to do something meaningful for the RNRMC,” said Fred. “I’ve seen first-hand how much they do for people on operations, and for veterans who carry those experiences long after they’ve come home.
“We knew we wanted to create something big enough to reflect the scale of that impact - something that would genuinely cut through and raise real awareness. When the idea of a world-record attempt surfaced, it just clicked. This felt like the challenge worthy of the people we’re running for.”
Fred, who joined the Royal Marines Band Service at the age of 17, spent five years both in the UK and overseas. In 2017 he joined Britannia Royal Naval College as a logistics officer and upon earning his commission was immediately sent to HMS Duncan as the Type 45 destroyer joined Standing NATO Maritime Group and saw service in the Black Sea.
In September 2020 Fred transferred to the Submarine Service and served as the logistics officer in HMS Vigilant, taking part in Operation Relentless before deploying to Alaska in 2022 for US ICEEX.
He deployed to Bahrain in May 2023 and when he returned to the UK at the end of that year, joined 24 Commando RE for training prior to completing the All-Arms Commando Course. Upon completion of the course, Fred joined the Headquarters UK Commando Force as the Deputy Group Logistics Commander and served in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean. His most recent deployments were Catamaran and Tarassis.
Throughout the journey, audiences will be able to follow Fred in real time through livestreams, Q&As, and regular dispatches from the road. A dedicated film crew will document the entire expedition in 4K, culminating in a feature-length documentary set for release on a major streaming platform - offering even greater visibility for supporters and sponsors.
Earthstrider also aims to become the first fully interactive world-run, with global audiences invited to join virtually and engage with the team as the expedition unfolds.
The challenge officially begins today (DEC 16), marking the start of an inspiring story of resilience, adventure, and unwavering support for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines family.
For more information, visit www.earthstrider2025.com.