Airmen to fly through the Great North Run
10th August 2012
RAF serving members of the TCW & 90SU RAF Association branch and friends will tackle the Great North Run dressed as Biggles to aid a forces charity.
For most of the seven man team, who are mainly based at RAF High Wycombe, it will be a challenging first.
The team was pulled together by Sgt Mick Welsh, who asked around HQ AIR A6 Division to see if anyone wanted to take part and raise money for the RAF Association.
“As a serving member of the RAF I wanted to raise money for the RAF Association and raise awareness of what the charity does amongst my friends and family. The support they give to Serving and ex-Serving members of the RAF is vital.”
As most of the members had completed tours in theatres such as Afghanistan, they realised first-hand the importance of the help and support the charity could provide.
Mick said: “As a serving member of the RAF I wanted to raise money for the RAF Association and raise awareness of what the charity does amongst my friends and family. The support they give to Serving and ex-Serving members of the RAF is vital.”
Mick’s colleagues, Sqn Ldr Rob Braybrook, Sqn Ldr Phil Crebbin and Sqn Ldr Rob Wright all joined him from the A6 division.
Flt Lt Rich Gray, who previously worked in A6, but is now based at RAF Odiham, was also approached to take part.
This left RAF Photographer Sgt Ross Tilly from RAF Odiham, who Mick met while on tour in Afghanistan last year, and Mick’s best mate, Gordon Nichol, to complete the team.
Mick added: “The training for the half-marathon is coming along nicely, we will be at peak fitness by September; if there is a team competition the RAFA MISFITS will be in it to win it!”
Gordon said: “Not so long ago I was working at a house in Easington installing SKY TV for an elderly gentleman. As we got on talking he told me that he served in the RAF during WWII and had been helped by the RAF Association. He was nearly 90 years old and blind, but, he was a sharp as a tack and was very inspiring and if a charity like this is helping this gentleman then I will do my utmost to raise as much as I can”.
The team will all be wearing Biggles attire - including flying helmet, handlebar moustache, pipe and white scarf to make them stand out from the crowd and training is well underway.
They hope to raise over £3,000 for the RAF Association, which will go towards providing help and support for any past and present members of the RAF and their families who are in need.
To sponsor the team, go to www.virginmoneygiving.com/RAFAMISFITS. You can also follow them on twitter @RAFAMISFITS and they have a Just Giving donation page at www.justgiving.com/rafamisfits .
The Great North Run will take place this year on September 16th.
Pictured are (left-right) Flt Lt Rich Gray, Sgt Ross Tilly, Sqn Ldr Phil Crebbin, Sgt Mick Welsh