Finmeccanica UK

The Combined Services Disabled Ski Team (CSDST) is the charitable organisation dedicated to rehabilitating those serving and retired service personnel who have been wounded, injured or become sick during their military service, through the medium of Adaptive (Alpine) Skiing.  

The charity trains athletes to national Paralympic standard, reintroducing the spirit of challenge and competition that they were accustomed to as part of normal Service life. Its goal is to qualify four athletes for the 2018 Winter Paralympics in Pyeonchang, following hot on the trail of Sergeant (Retired) Mick Brennan who was trained by the CSDST and was selected to represent Paralympics GB at Sochi 2014 and achieved a number of top 10 results.

With a proven model and high calibre coaching in place for turning relative novices into Paralympic athletes, it's an achievable goal but one that requires an injection of funding to make happen.

Selex ES and its employees have been long-time supporters of the team for several years, helping raise the profile of the charity and supporting numerous fund-raising activities. In September 2014, a group of Selex ES UK employees organised the 'Ride of Thrones', which saw a team of Selex ES and CSDST riders cycle from one historic throne of power to another. leaving Edinburgh Castle on 3 September and cycling 450 miles across the UK to arrive at the Tower of London on 9 September. The team even compromised cyclists using specially designed hand-driven bikes.

In total, over £40,000 was raised by the riders in aid of CSDST!

Want to know more?

Throughout the week-long event, we provided updates on how the team was progressing and photos of the ride. You can also discover more about our riders and why they decided to take up the Ride of Thrones challenge.

If you want to donate to the cause, you can do so via JustGiving or by texting “HERO26” followed by the amount you wish to make (max £10) to 70070. All donations will help fund the equipment and training that the CSDST team needs to send its athletes to represent Paralympics GB in 2018.