Dear Reader,

You may have recently heard the deeply concerning news: Sir Ranulph Fiennes is missing.

To the world, Ran is a national treasure and legendary explorer.

To me, he is my step-father—a man of immense heart, kindness, and selflessness who supported me for years.

As a result of our concern and desperation, we have created a fundraiser through GoFundMe as a way to help out one dear to us all, Sir Ran Fiennes.

I write to you now about my own personal experiences, as well as my feelings of Ran now missing.

Ran and I have shared a relationship which has navigated the complexities akin with being a ‘step-son’. There has always been a period of learning for Ran, both in my case and Elizabeths - yet we always had warmth and a good connection. He has never failed to help me where he can, be it trying to help me speak to someone space-industry related, or passing on a much-too-large post-expedition jacket. The relationship always had a positive constant to it for many years.

Since being asked to leave the family home and not come back (in around 2024), I can only imagine the amplification of Ran’s difficulties and Isolation. Where he would be worried as to whether his own daughter loved him. His isolation would consist of being effectively annexed in the other end of the house, with relatively minimal contact. I remember him gleaming the occasional times I would appear unannounced with some sweat treats, which I’d had to haul with me as I climbed over the 7-foot industrial entrance gate.

For myself, I have experienced great pain and distress as a result of my mothers actions applied to me over my life, none more than over these past years (since 2018), except for maybe my earlier childhood (which conveniently my memory has erased). Sadly it sent me into a period of anxiety and depression, during which entering a supermarket would give me slight-breathlessness and heightened heart rate - I have now been able to take the reigns on this, but it still remains a struggle.

As I reflect on my own experiences and emotional toil, I consider Ran, a man of great physical and mental strength; though within this hard shell of human endeavour and capability, lies a highly caring, feeling, and conscientious person - I cannot imagine the difficult feelings he is harbouring inside him as a result of his past and current experiences.

Upon learning from other friends/family that Ran was considered missing, I put aside my own pain and immediately felt anger; anger that similar experiences I’d had, were now being cast onto Ran. A man for as long as I could remember, was completely selfless, kind, and abided by an excellent moral code.

I myself have tried multiple avenues to find Ran and be able to have a simple conversation with him, or to be able to take him for a brief coffee. Be it nervously approaching the doors of KYN Hurlingham, or Belong Crewe, where I brought with me a pack of cookies in case I did find him; I have left both with a feeling of dismay and a slightly emptier heart; yet, I remain unwavering in my efforts in finding Ran.

The last time I saw Ran was when he whisked me away while I was walking up the drive on one of my infrequent post-2018 visits, sadly neither him or I realised that it may be the last time we’d see and hug one another. This is the moment he told me he was proud of me, a sweet moment in my memory.

Where Your Support Goes

All funds raised will go directly toward the legal costs required to locate and safeguard Sir Ranulph Fiennes.

Specifically, donations will cover:

Ran has spent his entire life pushing boundaries for others and representing the best of human endurance. Now, he needs us to fight for him.

Every contribution—no matter the size—makes a tangible difference in securing proper legal protection for Ran.

If you are unable to donate, sharing this campaign with your network is equally powerful.

I thank you very much for your time and hopeful donation towards ours and Ran’s cause,

Alex Millington-Cotes

Telegraph Article: "Where is Sir Ranulph Fiennes"

Telegraph: "Sir Ranulph Fiennes kept in care home illegally"

Note: should we be successful in our mission, and there are remaining funds, these will be distributed to Ran's favourite charities, "Marie Curie Cancer Care", and "The British Heart Foundation".