Culdrose charity cycle challenge
A small team of Royal Air Force Airmen calling themselves The 3 Amigos are about to set off on a sponsored charity cycle ride from their base at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall to their parent unit of Royal Air Force Benson in Oxfordshire.
The team of aircraft technicians consists of Senior Aircraftsman (Technician) John Cowan and Junior Technician Toby Masters from the Merlin Forward Support Unit (MFSU) at Culdrose and Corporal James Cooper from RAF Odiham. The 3 Amigos are raising money for the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) charity, specifically the RAF St Mawgan branch, with all money raised staying within Cornwall to help local current and ex-service personnel and their families.
The ride, totalling 280 miles will start on 1st July and is expected to take 3 days in total.
The route will be split into the following 3 stages:
Day 1 - RNAS Culdrose to Hatherleigh in West Devon, 96 miles.
Day 2 - Hatherleigh to Frome in East Somerset, 100 miles.
Day 3 - Frome to RAF Benson, 84 miles.
The riders will receive support along the route from Cpl Stu Hicks who will be driving a support van loaded with spares, supplies and refreshments.
Alongside The 3 Amigos other Royal Navy and RAF volunteers from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose have been hard at work fundraising for the past year including public collections in Helston, Truro, Bodmin, Newquay and Penryn. One impressive example of their fundraising is £834 raised in just one day at Helston Tesco’s!
In December last year, they also organised a charity RAF vs. Royal Navy football match that took place at Culdrose with the Royal Navy winning, but the RAF putting up a brave fight all the same! They have also recently held a raffle, supported by a great many local and nationwide companies and attractions, raising £329 from ticket sales.
They have had great support, including a very generous contribution from LED Lenser, who has supplied kit for the ride, including head torches and cycle lights plus a donation of £200.
So far, the team have raised in excess of £5800, a fantastic amount that is certain to increase before the ride with yet more collections and fund raising events being planned.
Anyone wishing to support the team by donating please visit their Just Giving page at www.justgiving.com/the3amigoskernow and support them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/the3amigoscyclechallenge .
Alternatively, there is a Just Text Giving service set up to allow people to donate via text message.
Just text SSAF50 £2 to 70070.
You can find out more about SSAFA’s activities by visiting www.ssafa.org.uk .