The Dartmoor Yomp is an annual
charitable
The practice of charity is the voluntary giving of help to those in need, as a humanitarian act, unmotivated by self-interest. There are a number of philosophies about charity, often associated with religion.
Etymology
The word ''charity'' or ...
fundraising
Fundraising or fund-raising is the process of seeking and gathering voluntary financial contributions by engaging individuals, businesses, charitable foundations, or governmental agencies. Although fundraising typically refers to efforts to gathe ...
event run in aid of the various charities that support injured
British Armed Forces
The British Armed Forces, also known as His Majesty's Armed Forces, are the military forces responsible for the defence of the United Kingdom, its Overseas Territories and the Crown Dependencies. They also promote the UK's wider interests, s ...
Royal Marines
The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...
. The Yomp is a daytime trek held in the
Dartmoor National Park
Dartmoor is an upland area in southern Devon, England. The moorland and surrounding land has been protected by National Park status since 1951. Dartmoor National Park covers .
The granite which forms the uplands dates from the Carboniferous P ...
in the county of
Devon
Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...
, England, usually some 12 miles (19 km) in length, and is undertaken by disabled servicemen joined by able-bodied former and serving Royal Marines and their immediate families. The challenge is usually held over two days in September: a get-together on the Friday and the actual Yomp on the Saturday. The Dartmoor Yomp takes its name from the Royal Marines slang term "
yomp
Yomp is Royal Marines slang describing a long-distance loaded march carrying full kit. It was popularised by journalistic coverage in 1982 during the Falklands War. The origin of the word is unclear, and there is no evidence to suggest that it ...
", meaning a route march carrying full kit. It was founded in 2008.
The initial event in 2008 took place on 26–28 September. In 2009 the event took place on 18 and 19 September and the charities supported were
Help for Heroes
Help for Heroes (H4H) is a British charity which provides lifelong recovery support to British Armed Forces service personnel who have been wounded or injured in the line of duty, and to their families, originally only since 11 September 2001, th ...
,
BLESMA,
Combat Stress
Combat stress reaction (CSR) is acute behavioral disorganization as a direct result of the trauma of war. Also known as "combat fatigue", "battle fatigue", or "battle neurosis", it has some overlap with the diagnosis of acute stress reaction used ...
and
St Dunstan's.
In 2010 the proceeds went to the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.
[
The 2010 event took place on 10 and 11 September 2010.] Its route was changed to allow the filming of the Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg (; born December 18, 1946) is an American director, writer, and producer. A major figure of the New Hollywood era and pioneer of the modern blockbuster, he is the most commercially successful director of all time. Spie ...
film ''War Horse
The first evidence of horses in warfare dates from Eurasia between 4000 and 3000 BC. A Sumerian illustration of warfare from 2500 BC depicts some type of equine pulling wagons. By 1600 BC, improved harness and chariot designs ...
'' to continue undisturbed.[
]
See also
* Dartmoor Beast
References
{{Reflist
External links
2010 Dartmoor Yomp Facebook page
Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund 2010 Dartmoor Yomp page
Dartmoor
Charity events in the United Kingdom
Royal Marines
Annual events in the United Kingdom
Events in Devon