THE parents of a tragic Royal Marine are organising a charity event to raise awareness of cardiac arrests in young people.

Nigel Foster, from Gosport Road, Fareham, collapsed and died during a gruelling exercise just days after joining the marines in March 1994.

Aged 26 at the time, he was fit and healthy, and had suffered no heart problems.

Nigel had just fulfilled his life-time's ambition to join the elite corps after a successful RAF career.

Defence chiefs have always maintained that the exercise regime was in no way responsible for the young soldier's death.

Since then Mike and Rosemarie Foster have chan-nelled their grief into a hectic round of fundraising for CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young. Mike Foster, 59, said: "It has really helped us to help CRY. It is a very proactive charity and has been a great source of support to us."

And now they are gearing up for this year's CRY Commando Challenge - a chance for exercise-loving members to prove themselves on a tough assault course used by marines.

On October 3 Mr and Mrs Foster are hoping to see participants take part in scrambling, climbing, jumping and running to raise cash for CRY.

Mr Foster said: "In the past it has been brilliant and we have had loads of support from the forces, although the challenge is open to anyone."

Teams of three and five pay £10 each to compete in the challenge, which will be held at the Royal Marine Endurance Course in Lympstone, Devon.

A Royal Marine will escort each team through the two-mile course. An ability to jog for four miles is a condition of entry.

The closing date to enter this year's CRY Commando Challenge is September 3.

Money previously raised has been used to buy a mobile heart screening unit, set up eight ECG community testing programmes, for educational literature about cardiac arrests and to employ an administrator.

For further details about the CRY Challenge please contact Mike Foster on 01329 231734.

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