On 18 September, the RAF Benevolent Fund hosted a gala banquet for some 240 guests at Hampton Court Palace.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, Chief of the Air Staff, was guest of honour and was joined by Lord Trenchard (Chairman of the RAF Benevolent Fund), Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire, and an impressive range of guests from companies including QinetiQ, BAE Systems and IBM (UK).

The landmark event was a celebration of the 90th anniversary of the RAF, and its enduring relationship with its principal welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Norman Tench completed an incredible fundraising feat at Lasham Airfield on 6 September, in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund and the British Disabled Flying Association (BDFA).

The Fund supporter joined a group of other disabled volunteers in an attempt to pull a 57-tonne Boeing 757 along the runway, using only the power of manual wheelchairs!

The roar of Tornado fighters was replaced by the roar of more than 100 rally cars at RAF Marham on 13 and 14 September for the Richard Burns Memorial Rally.

This special event was in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund and the Richard Burns Foundation, and saw RAF Benevolent Fund beneficiary Carl Harding going for a spin in a brand new Subaru rally car.

The final amount raised by the event is still unknown, but will be in 5 figures!

Over 30 million printer cartridges are thrown away in the UK every year. Most of these can be recycled or reused.

The RAF Benevolent Fund earns £1 for every inkjet printer cartridge we recycle. The money helps to fund our vital welfare work, and recycling helps conserve our planet for the future.

Why not donate by recycling your old inkjet cartridges? Send us an email with the subject 'Printer Cartridge Recycling', together with your name and address.

We'll send you a prepaid, pre-addressed recycling bag. You can then put your old cartridges in the bag, seal it, and place it in the post. No stamps are required. Please note that we cannot recycle Epson cartridges.

Residents, respite guests and staff at Princess Marina House enjoyed an old-fashioned street party with help from a donation made by the RAF Benevolent Fund. All who attended had an exceptionally good time and the whole house buzzed from 10am to well past 10pm. The day included a Punch and Judy show, balloon modelling, quizzes and games, horse racing and much more.

St Clement Danes, the Central Church of The Royal Air Force, is presenting a special band and choral concert for the Royal Air Force anniversary year. The concert will feature the Central Band of the Royal Air Force and the Choir of St Clement Danes.

The concert takes place on 13 November 2008. Tickets are £12 including postage.

St Barnabas House hospice supported 32 ex-RAF service personnel during the year to April 2008. The RAF Benevolent Fund has awarded a grant to cover the costs of care and an additional grant to St Barnabas' appeal for a new hospice that will greatly enhance the service they offer.

British Forces Travel is a new holiday travel agency designed to serve the needs of the Armed Forces. It is different because it intends to donate 30% of net profits to six worthy UK Armed Forces charities including the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Visit the British Forces Travel website or call them on 01633 798 987 to find out more.

In recognition for the hard work and commitment of the Armed Forces, Newbury Racecourse has devoted their final flat race meeting of the season to them, on Saturday 25 October 2008.

Newbury Racecourse is also keen to involve veterans in order to show appreciation for both past and present military personnel.

Dad's army star Ian Lavender, best known for his role as Private Pike, has been 'drafted in' as one of the comperes on the forthcoming concert tour by the Royal Air Force Bands.

Tour dates are fixed between 10 October and 7 December, and will include London, Gateshead, Glasgow, Harrogate, Manchester, Birmingham, Nottingham, Poole, Basingstoke, Ipswich, Southend and Eastbourne.

Each concert will feature one of the main bands of the Service, the big band sound of the Squadronaires, and the Salon Orchestra, a string quintet.

Are you a member of the RAF family? The RAF Benevolent Fund and RAFA run three respite homes, exclusively for members of the RAF family in these three locations:

	Flowerdown House Victorian elegance on the seafront at Weston-super-Mare. One of the West Country's most popular resorts, and close to local beauty spots. Tel: 01934 621664
	Richard Peck House Only 100 yards from the sea-front at St Annes, and close to the North West's major attractions, such as Blackpool and the Fylde Coast. Tel: 01253 725519
	Rothbury House Elegant surroundings and large terraced gardens with panoramic views over the beautiful Coquet Valley and Simonside Hills. Tel: 01669 620235

How much does it cost? It all depends on what you can afford!  If you can't afford to pay the full cost but really need a break, we could help you to make it happen! Just contact us on the telephone numbers above and ask for details.

Making a donation online is the most effective way to support the Fund as it saves time and money. We use a leading donation processing agency called Justgiving to ensure that your gift is handled securely and efficiently. What's more, if you are a UK taxpayer, Justgiving will automatically add a 28% tax bonus to your donation at no cost to you!

A secure online credit card donation can be made by clicking the button above.