Corinne's story moves and inspires at Thanksgiving
The RAF Benevolent Fund gave thanks for its 90 years of continuous service to the RAF family with a "Thanksgiving Day" at St Clement Danes Church, the spiritual home of the RAF, on Sunday 12 July. During the service Corinne Knight, an RAFBF beneficiary, read a poem inspired by the loss of her partner, Sergeant Bob O'Connor, who was killed in the 2005 Iraq Hercules crash. Corinne's poem explored her feelings of loss and of gratitude for the way she was helped by the RAFBF in the aftermath.
Sir Rob Wright, Controller of the RAFBF, said, "It has been an exceptionally gratifying experience to bring together representatives of the RAF family in this, the spiritual home of the RAF, to give thanks for the work of the RAF Benevolent Fund. In our 90th anniversary year, it seems only right that our staff, our beneficiaries, serving RAF personnel and cadets should gather in grateful contemplation of the work that has been done and that which is still to come."
If you would like to help support people like Corinne who have lost a loved one serving in the RAF, please make a donation. 
You can be certain we'll do our best to ensure your help reaches those in the RAF family that need it most.
See photos of Thanksgiving
Read Corinne's poem
|
Relationship counselling service expanded
The RAF Benevolent Fund has expanded its relationship counselling service for serving personnel, following a successful pilot scheme in 2008. We're offering to pay for up to 6 counselling sessions with Relate for serving personnel and/or their partners.
During 2008's highly successful pilot scheme, 350 counselling sessions were paid for throughout the year. Now that the scheme has been expanded to include the whole of the RAF, over 60 sessions a month are now being funded.
Face-to-face counselling, telephone counselling and advice via web-based live chat are all now available, giving people the opportunity to chat to a trained Relate consultant in the most convenient way. To find out more go to: www.rafbf-workitout.org.uk or call 0845 077556 where a trained Relate consultant will be able to talk through the available options.
Red Arrows dedicate heart manoeuvre
The Red Arrows are helping to celebrate our 90th anniversary by dedicating their famous "heart" manoeuvre to the RAF Benevolent Fund at all their 2009 airshow displays.
Red 1, Wing Commander Jas Hawker, Officer Commanding and Team Leader of the Red Arrows, said, "The Red Arrows are delighted to be supporting the RAFBF's 90th anniversary celebrations by dedicating our world-famous 'heart' manoeuvre to the organisation throughout our 2009 display season."
Three fantastic donations to the RAFBF
This year has seen astonishing generosity by the RAF Benevolent Fund's supporters, with some striking donations being made to assist our work as the RAF's leading welfare charity.
Most recently, the RAFBF received a cheque for an amazing £96,000 from the Waddington International Airshow, raised at last year's event, taking the total amount donated by the airshow to the RAFBF to almost a million pounds since 1995.
In June, at a special lunch held at the RAF Club in Piccadilly, representatives of the Shepherd Neame brewery presented a cheque for £31,500 to the RAFBF, raised through fundraising associated with its "Spitfire Ale" brand.
In April, personnel from RAF St Mawgan in Cornwall invited RAFBF representatives to the Officer's Mess, to present a cheque for £1,000. The donation, received on behalf of the RAFBF by beneficiary Robert Uren, was raised through a variety of on-station activities last year.
We would like to say a big Thank You to everyone who was involved in raising these funds for us!
Bags-for-life available in our online shop
Now available, our RAFBF branded bags-for-life are made by Onya, a manufacturer with a great reputation for sustainability. The bags are constructed from a strong bright parachute material and cost just £6.50.
RAFBF online shop
|
|
Website news
-
Big thank-you to our skydivers
Torrential rain prevented any jumps taking place but our stoic skydivers got their training completed and are ready to come back another day »
-
90 runners in London 10k
RAF personnel from across the UK raised money by taking part in the British London 10k Run, including 17 runners from 34 Squadron at RAF Leeming »
-
Conquering the haggis
Serving RAF personnel joined forces with RAFBF staff in the Hairy Haggis Marathon in Edinburgh, raising over £1,500 »
-
Marham Expedition drops in
Twenty-two members of RAF Marham Expedition visited Princess Marina House on a 100 mile walk from Winchester to Eastbourne »
Latest on our fundraising blog
RAF Lyneham Open Air Concert
25-Jul-09 Fun, pomp and splendour of a Last Night at the Proms »
East Fortune Air Show
25-Jul-09 Over two hours of high-octane aerial displays »
RAFBF Air Show
1-Aug-09 Spitfires and Hurricanes ruling the Lincolnshire sky again »
Richard Burns Memorial Rally
15-Aug-09 Rally driver Marko Martin defends his 2008 title »
Support us
Recycle your inkjet cartridges and we'll receive a £1 donation for each cartridge »
Aviation News magazine is offering a 10% discount and 10% donation on subscriptions »
APH airport parking
Pre-booking with APH can save serving and ex-RAF up to 35%. Call 0870 737 7671 quoting 'RAF' or book online »
switch2help.com will find you a cheaper gas or electricity supplier and make a donation to us if you switch »
|
