RAF squadron takes on historic run (From Witney Gazette)

RAF Brize Norton squadron takes on historic run

12:00pm Saturday 23rd March 2013 in News

HISTORY has inspired personnel at RAF Brize Norton to take on their latest half marathon challenge for charity.

Three teams from 99 Squadron, which operates Boeing C17 Globemaster transport planes, will each run 13 miles, to cover 39 miles from Yatesbury, in Wiltshire, where the squadron was formed in 1919, back to RAF Brize Norton on Wednesday.

The target is to raise more than £2,000, with most going to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

The fundraising run was the idea of Sgt Marc Cowling, who wanted to support the “amazing” work the charity does for vulnerable children.

Ten per cent of the funds raised will also donated to the Royal Air Forces Association (RAFA).

A dozenmembers of the squadron will be taking part.

People who want to sponsor Sgt Cowling and the team should visit justgiving.com/Marc-Cowling1

• Last week a team of RAF personnel from Airtanker Services at RAF Brize Norton and engineers from airline Virgin Atlantic trekked from London’s Heathrow Airport to Airtanker’s base in aid of charity.

The nine-strong team took three days, from Monday to Wednesday, to cover the 75 miles to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Baby Snow Fairy Fund, which supports neonatal units at hospitals.

The RAF engineers have been carrying out on-the-job training for 10 months at the airline’s Heathrow maintenance centre, working on Airbus aircraft similar to the new Voyager air-to-air refuelling tanker planes based at Brize Norton.

So far the team has raised £2,759 but donations can still be made online at uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ team/heathrowhubhike