SERVING officers from the Royal Signals and 4COM employees joined a wheelchair rugby team to complete a 26-hour rugby marathon.

The event, held by the Dorset Destroyers took place at Rossmore Leisure Centre with approximately 40 participants acting as rolling subs, subbing themselves in and out for the duration of the challenge.

Sue Coombs, one of the club’s founders, said: “We began the Dorset Destroyers about four years ago. It was one of Nick’s mad ideas. He wanted to play Wheelchair Rugby but the nearest ones were in Portsmouth and Southampton, so we went to the governing body and they jumped at the chance.”

The event, which aimed to raise £10,000, was supported by telecommunications company 4COM, the Royal Signals and Rossmore Leisure Centre, who donated their main hall for the event and training sessions.

Moments before the game began, group operations director from 4COM and former Royal Signal, Dean Cartledge said: “It’s nice to be involved. I’ve come for a couple of training sessions in the past month, but the others have been planning and training for the past year. I’m apprehensive, but confident.”

Staff Sergeant David Bates from the Royal Signals said: “We heard about it 6 months ago from former Royal Signal, and Dorset Destroyer, Dave Wilkinson, and we have been involved from the start.”

The Dorset Destroyers, a team made up of players with impairments and disabilities are raising money to support their sport, with some of the money raised going to The Royal Signals Benevolent fund, which aims to support ex-military personnel in need and Cakes 4 Casualties, a charity that provides cakes to injured servicemen and women.

Nick Coombs, member and founder of the Dorset Destroyers said: “My doctor told me I shouldn’t play because I’ve got fractures in my shoulders and my hips, but that’s not going to stop me. I’m going to be in pain anyway, so I may as well be in pain for a good cause.”

The Dorset Destroyers attempted to break the world record for the longest continuous game of wheelchair rugby but were unable to do so due to a few problems including injuries.