The NAAFI Fund recently had the pleasure of supporting URNU (University Royal Naval Unit) Wales with a £1,500 grant to level up their mountain biking game. The mission was to kit out the unit with top-tier POC arm and knee pads, ensuring every cadet can hit the trails with confidence (and all their skin intact!).
The unit recently headed to the Forest of Dean for Exercise ‘Dragon Velo.’ These trails are famous for being both testing and exhilarating, the perfect playground for a comprehensive off-road cycling programme designed to push cadets of all abilities.
Whether they were seasoned pros or total beginners, the goal was simple: challenge yourself, learn new skills, and have a blast doing it.
The cadets are now enjoying their POC Joint guards, which are a bit of a game-changer. These pads feature VPD (visco-elastic polymer dough), a patented shock-absorbing material that stays soft while riding but hardens instantly on impact.
The real proof of the project’s success comes from the cadets themselves. Rhianna Colpus, a URNU cadet, shared her experience:
“As a novice, I was very nervous about trying mountain biking, however having proper knee and elbow pads gave me the confidence to get fully involved. Despite taking a tumble, I ended up loving the experience and will definitely be taking up future mountain biking opportunities the unit has to offer.”
We have to give a massive thank you to our partners at Tredz. By teaming up with them and utilising our supplier discounts, we managed to stretch the grant even further. In fact, the unit was able to secure a whole extra set of protective gear for the same price! More gear means more cadets on bikes, which is a win in our book.
We are incredibly proud to support URNU Wales as they continue to provide life-changing (and occasionally mud-splattered) opportunities for their cadets.
The NAAFI Fund, exists to support projects that enhance welfare and improve quality of life for Service Personnel and their families. If your unit has an inspiring idea, we want to hear from you!
Get in touch to find out how the NAAFI Fund can help bring your vision to life. Contact us for more information on how to apply at funding@naafi.co.uk.
