Alistair Mann, Chairman of the Cobham Chamber of Commerce, is running to raise funds for Combat Stress the Ex-Services Mental Welfare Society.

Alistair, an ex-soldier, was medically discharged with a paralysing neck injury in 1987 and has now taken up the challenge to run in this years Royal Parks Half Marathon in London on Sunday 6th October 2013.

To raise awareness of the charity Alistair is seeking donations of just £2 so that as many people as possible can afford to demonstrate their support for Combat Stress and the important work they do.

If you would like to support Alistair, help him raise money for this important charity but also help demonstrate widespread support across our community, please visit the JustGiving website to make a donation and find out more about Combat Stress by clicking on the links below.

Thank you.

The Cobham Chamber of Commerce organised an extra duck race on Heritage Day this year. Twenty ducks were sponsored and represented participating Cobham businesses. The winning duck was called "Jedi Duck" and the lucky business was the Harlequin Dry Cleaners based at the junction of Anyards Road and the High Street.

The big ducks who took part in the race were also the focus of attention for an earlier "hunt the duck" competition. Competition participants had to fill in a form with the name of the duck displayed in the window of each of the twenty businesses. Each competition entry cost just a pound. Three winners were drawn after the duck race and have already been contacted regarding their prize.

The Chamber of Commerce would like to thank the following businesses for taking part.

We are very pleased with the number of people who have said how much they enjoyed Cobham at Christmas 2012 last year and especially the new Christmas lights. Fortunately we have captured the spirit of the evening in a video.

Earlier this year a group of experienced teachers, school governors, parents and local business leaders put forward a proposal to the Department for Education to establish a new secondary school in Cobham under the government's Free Schools initiative. This followed a range of extremely positive public meetings in which the plan for the new school was outlined and feedback was sought, and a huge wave of local support with more than 300 families expressing very strong interest in the school and many more members of the local community offering their support for the project.

Volunteering opportunities in your local community - would you like to help make a difference?

Volunteering is something that everyone can do. Whatever your interests, wherever you live, whether you have a lot of time or a little – you will be giving your time to help charities and community groups improve lives.