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Typhoon detachment complete 100km trail to help vulnerable young people overcome adversity

The runners stand by the Jon Egging memorial.

Members of the Typhoon Squadron, deployed on Middle East Operations have undertaken an arduous 10km relay to raise funds for the Jon Egging Trust. 

The team embraced the charity’s ethos of 'overcoming adversity,' braving the heat to each run 10km along the coastal trail route, and raise a total of £1,030 for a fantastic cause.  They also joined a virtual event, attended by runners worldwide, to celebrate the charity’s 10th anniversary.

Runners.

The team was comprised of 10 Engineers, all of whom undertook a route beginning and finishing at the Red Arrows Memorial on the picturesque cliffs.  This commemorates, amongst others, Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, a Red Arrows Pilot who was tragically killed in 2011 and later honoured with the memorial - a fitting place to start the challenge for the charity set up in his memory.

Runner rests with water by the Jon Egging memorial.

The Jon Egging Trust was founded in 2012 to fulfil Jon’s ambition to help young people facing adversity to be the best they can be.  As an early intervention organisation, the charity steps in to help youngsters whose life challenges and low self-esteem put them at significant risk of not being in education, employment or training.  They deliver learning programmes, provide access to inspirational role models and provide life-changing opportunities linked to aviation, engineering and science.  The money raised will contribute to the trust’s mission to reach 1 million vulnerable young people by 2031. 

The runners on the trail standing by the Jon Egging memorial.

Members of the Squadron also have a personal connection to the charity, with the Detachment Commander attending flying training with Jon as a Junior Pilot. 

“Inspiring young people to realise their full potential through teamwork and leadership is a very worthy cause that perfectly captures Jon’s spirit and legacy.  Our last fundraising effort was at the Great North Run in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic struck, so we are delighted to have participated in this 100km event under the blistering heat.”

Detachment Commander. 

Fundraising and completing the event has provided team members with a welcome change from the busy pace of delivering Operations.  Despite the challenges associated with being deployed on operations in the Middle East, physical activities and particularly those which raise money to help individuals less fortunate than themselves can support the resilience of our personnel.   

The runners on the trail.

UK Armed Forces are deployed to Cyprus to support counter Daesh operations as part of the 83-member strong Global Coalition.  Fitness and health play a large part in the success of Armed Forces personnel. 

The runners on the trail with shadows casting back.

More information about fitness and health is available on the Return To Fitness page, with resources to help prepare personnel for the RAF Fitness Test.  Or information about fundraising for a welfare charity in support of all serving and former members of the RAF, as well as their partners and dependent children, can be found at the RAF Benevolent Fund.