Top: Soldiers from 10 Bty, 23 Fd Regt, marching around the 400m track at Crest Athletic Centre in Sydney as part of a charity exercise. They raised $32,000 for the NSW Cancer Council. Below: It’s smelly work but someone has to do it ... after 303 laps of the track, the soldiers’ feet were checked for wear and tear. Photos by Bill Cunneen

By Cpl Alisha Carr

WHAT better way to recruit new soldiers than by participating in a charity relay to raise $32,000 for the NSW Cancer Council?

Holsworthy-based 10 Fd Bty, 23 Fd Regt, recently took part in such an activity at the Crest Athletic Centre in Liverpool in Sydney’s west, marching 303 laps around a 400m athletics track.

Lt Adam Loughrey, 10 Fd Bty, said the 24-hour Relay for Life was used by the unit as a public relations activity.

“Our CO, Lt-Col J McCauley is very active when it comes to getting the unit involved with the public,” he said.

“We tackled the relay as if it was a military operation. We had a piquet system because we needed soldiers walking for the entire 24-hour period – no more than five soldiers were allowed on the track at the same time.

“Collectively we walked over 110km. Two soldiers have actually walked 125 laps each (about 40km) of the 400m track – Gnr Eric Bridge and Gnr Hardy Azzez.”

He said immediately after the relay, the soldiers – also from the unit’s Canberra detachment – headed off to Singleton to participate in a five-day exercise.

“This demonstrates the loyalty and commitment of these soldiers.”

He said the unit was always keen to help the community.

“It’s also great if we can use these events to help recruit soldiers into the unit.”

.