Meet the Team
Runners Members
CSgt Damian Todd RM
Damian describes himself as ‘a thoroughbred adrenaline junkie and born sprinter with a natural propensity to avoid distance running’. He has been in the Royal Marines for 20 years and was a British ranked decathlete and was once a member of the British Bobsleigh Team. He also runs the only official MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) club in the UK Armed Forces. The Gumpathon is Damian’s idea and, he accepts its a crazy one, but says that he would be a hypocrite to expect anyone else to run if he wasn’t prepared to do it himself.
Damian on The Gumpathon 'I've been touched by the courage and cheerfulness under adversity of the men and women who have returned from operations with some horrific injuries. I am blessed to be able to still continue living, what is deemed to be, a 'normal life', I have the opportunity to run across America to support those who are unable to do so. This fact is my motivation to achieve The Gumpathon'.
Mark Ormrod
Mark is a Marine of 8 years standing. Born in the West Country he describes himself as stubborn with a love of Chinese take-away. During a tour in Afghanistan in 2007 Mark was severely injured losing both legs and his right arm. Since then his courage and determination to get on with life has provided an inspiration to many others, including all those involved in the Gumpathon. He has written a book about his experiences called Man Down which was published in 2009 and is now attached to the new Hasler Company which will provide bespoke support for injured Marines.
Mark on The Gumpathon 'Since being injured I have become part of a whole different world, I have seen and experienced the devastation and aftermath that comes with being injured. I have had so much help and support from all different areas and enjoy taking the opportunity to help others in similar positions to me. I hope by taking part in the Gumpathon I can show people that after a tragedy life goes on. I also want to see how many days it will take Brad and Toddy to break!'.
Master Gunnery Sergeant Charles "Chunks" Padilla USMC
Master Gunnery Sergeant Charles "Chunks" Padilla Chunks describes himself as a Marine that's always looking for new extreme challenges. He has been in the United States Marine Corps for over 28 years. He has served with various United States Marine Corps Reconnaissance units in the last 22 years. He served with the British Royal Marine Mountain Leader Course from 2001 to 2003. He's a graduate of the Royal Marine All-Arms Commando Course in 2002. He's very proud of being a U.S Marine and a British Royal Marine Commando.
Chunks on The Gumpathon 'I'm very envious of our young Recon Marines serving in today's Marine Corps. These brave hard Marines are coming off deployments from the Gan and these same Marines can't wait to get back into the fight. There's not a day that goes by that I wish I was in their boots. I'm very proud of our Recon Marine and doing the Gumpathon will allow me to help our wounded warriors that are returning from Iraq and the Gan. So, running across the beautiful United States of America to help our wounded U.S Marine and British Royal Marines will be a honor. Let the journey begin'.
Marine Jamie Jobson
Jamie is the youngest runner at only 24. He has been a Marine for three years and completed a tour of Afghanistan in 2008. He is an all-action Geordie enjoying diving, surfing, rock climbing and, thankfully, running.
Jamie on The Gumpathon 'I want to give something back for all of the lads who were injured over in Afghanistan that I met both over there and in the UK. I was so impressed by all of the doctors, nurses and physios and their constant and utter professionalism at all times and felt I needed to give something back for both the lads and them'.
Cpl Lloyd Fenner RM
Lloyd is 29 and originally from Grimsby. He joined the Marines in 2003 and has completed a tour in Iraq and two in Afghanistan with both 45 Commando and the Royal Marines Armoured Support Company. He is obsessed with sport of all kinds and is a passionate Manchester United fan (but we forgive him for this). He keeps his own fitness up playing football and running regularly. He describes his career highlight as accepting The Sun True Grit Award on behalf of his unit.
Lloyd on The Gumpathon 'Whilst I was deployed in Afghanistan I lost two close friends and saw many receive life changing injuries, it’s this experience that is my primary reason for wanting to be involved with The Gumpathon. Second to that all Marines carry with them the pursuit of excellence and I want to push myself to the absolute limits. My civilian family and friends believe all Marines are machines, it’s now time to put that theory to the test'.
SSgt James Mazzoni-Dalton Army Physical Training Corps
Jim is a black belt 4th Dan in Kyushindo Karate and ran a Karate club in Hampshire for 3 years before joining the British Army. Jim served with the 3rd Battalion The Parachute Regiment for 6 years from 1998 – 2004. In May 2004 Jim passed the Army Physical Training Corps Selection which completed his transfer into the APTC. Jim is now serving as the Unit Army Physical Training Corps Instructor at 29 Commando Regiment Royal Artillery based in Plymouth. His best Marathon time is 3 hours and 1 minute and he ran the Sahara Desert Marathon in 2002. He also completed the All Arms Commando Course in 2007 at the age of 32.
Jim on The Gumpathon 'When I was based in Bordon, Hampshire I met Damian through the Mixed Martial Arts Club he ran, we hit it off straight away and after a while he asked me if I would be interested in the Gumpathon. Well what could I say “A Commando goes forth where a Para dare not” Oh ..... I would never hear the end of it so I agreed. Charity has always been something that I have supported in all its guises and this event has my complete support due to it being something that we can put back into the men and women that have served our great countries at the ultimate cost. Enough said'.
Support Crew
Jules Payne, Driver/Physio
Jules Payne, was born and raised in Middlesbrough, where she grew up to become a fully qualified sports injury and holistic massage therapist, before moving down south to be based in Peterborough, where she specialises in preventative and post-injury therapies for marathon runners and rugby players. Jules became friends with Mark Ormrod on Facebook, and from here she found out about The Gumpathon and offered her services. Jules’ son, Tom, is a Royal Marine who has served in Afghanistan and is currently in Iraq.
Jules’ role is both preventative, by be helping the team avoid injury through stretching routines and pre-run massage, and curative, where should they get injured, she’ll be treating them to minimise long-term problems and make sure they can complete the challenge.
Staff Sergeant Caroline Wilde, Driver & Mechanic
JStaff Sergeant Caroline Wilde, is 34 years old, Warwick born Caroline Wilde is a serving Staff Sergeant in the REME (Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers) and an Artificer Vehicles (HND Engineering). She has now completed 18 and a half years service with another 5 years to go.
Whilst on her Artificer Vehicles course in 2007 Caroline was introduced to Damian through a mutual friend. Damian told the story of his plan to run across America and she said that if there was anything she could do to help then just get in touch. Caroline’s reason for getting involved with the Gumpathon, apart from the brilliant, but mad idea, was because her oldest son is now serving in the Royal Marines, and she wanted to make sure that should the worst happen to any of the brave men, money was there to help them.
Caroline’s role will be to drive the equipment and supplies across America to help make sure the guys can be looked after as best as possible. Caroline is married to husband Craig and has three sons: Alex, Harry and Sam.
Claire Worsley, Project and Sponsorship Manager
Claire Worsley, has been working on the Gumpathon for nearly two years and will be travelling with the team in the US providing communications and media support. With both parents in the Royal Navy she was born and spent her early years in Portsmouth but now lives and works in Somerset where she is Marketing Manager for Harmonic Limited, one of the event’s major sponsors. Members of her family have served in all three forces so Claire is well aware of the impact that operations can have on individuals and wants to use the her experience to help them. Claire is not a runner and is determined to get through the two months without putting on a pair of trainers.
Teresa Raschilla, Chef
Teresa Raschilla, is 28 and from Southern California She is passionate about supporting our servicemembers, the women and men from around the globe risk so much to protect our common ideals. With this spirit of gratitude, she is excited to join The Gumpathon team as a Chef/Driver. She brings over a decade of business experience to the team, along with an enthusiasm for both the adventure and the cause.
"I have always been overwhelmingly blessed. This is an opportunity for me to act on my appreciation for everything I have and get to experience in life, and to provide for the people who have made that possible for me even when it can mean sacrificing their own dreams. This is something that reaches far beyond the time it will take to cross the country."
Kester Jackson, Marketing
Kester Jackson, is 37 and from the West Midlands. Despite being a huge sports enthusiast he joins the team as a member of the support crew, fundamentally providing assistance in Marketing but he envisages this role to develop throughout the course of the event. He brings 10 years transatlantic business experience, during which time he has travelled extensively throughout the US and hopes his knowledge of its eclectic society and culture will be invaluable helping to raise awareness and funds for the wounded and their families.
After hearing about The Gumpathon he was extremely keen to get involved and regards it as an absolute privilege to part of an inspirational group. He hopes to make a huge contribution to the projects success. He appreciates that there are going to be many challenges along the route but has no doubt that it will ultimately become the most rewarding and life changing experience for everyone involved.
Paul Shearsby, Driver
Paul Shearsby, is a 22 year old who comes from a military family with his dad serving in the Royal Marines and his older brother the Air Force. He describes himself as always willing to help and take on new challenges. Paul enjoys martial arts and is a self confessed petrol head with a love of most things mechanical and will use this knowedge to assist in the smooth running of the challenge. In the UK he is a volunteer for the ambulance service. After hearing about the Gumpathon through his dad he joined the facebook group and found out all about the challenge ahead, after completing a fundraising day he has found a new found addiction. He feels that that the forces do so much for this country we need to give something back, and this is such an amazing opportunity to take part in even if he does have to don a pair of trainers for a few miles....!