RAF Brize Norton News

4624 Squadron Personnel Embark on Two Challenges to Raise Money for Charity

Members of 4624 (County of Oxford) Movements Squadron, have been embarking on not one but two challenges in order to raise money for SSAFA, the Armed Forces Charity.

Members of the Basic Movements Training Course 35, who embarked on the 624-mile challenge in aid of SSAFA
Members of the Basic Movements Training Course 35, who embarked on the 624-mile challenge in aid of SSAFA

A team of seven who were mobilised and deployed on Operations at RAF Akrotiri, completed a sponsored challenge. Between Christmas and the end of their deployment, the team initially aimed to cover 3340 km, which is the distance between RAF Akrotiri and RAF Brize Norton, in a relay effort by running, walking, cycling or rowing.  

They successfully smashed their target and completed over 3500 km in six weeks, raising £975 for SSAFA.

SSAFA is a UK charity that provides lifelong support to serving men and women, reservists and veterans from the British Armed Forces and their families. 

The Team at RAF Akrotiri during one of their walks to clock up the miles!
The Team at RAF Akrotiri during one of their walks to clock up the miles!

Back home in the UK, Phase Two Training personnel were also raising money for SSAFA and a local NHS charity, the Oxford Hospitals Charity.  In the month of February 2021, the team of seven ran 3.18 miles every day to cover the total distance of 624 miles.

The trainees completed their challenge within four weeks and raised an impressive £2,465 to be shared between SSAFA and the Oxford Hospitals Charity.

The Oxford Hospitals Charity supports the different departments and wards of Oxford University Hospitals, helping to provide the best medical equipment, research and facilities for patients and staff.

OOne of the Team members taking part in their daily running challengene of the members of the Team taking part in their daily running challenge
One of the Team members taking part in their daily running challenge

Wing Commander Rich Evans, Officer Commanding 4624 Squadron said:

“Our two teams, one in the process of gaining their professional skills, the other utilising them while deployed on Operations, together really epitomise the qualities and ethos of the RAF Reserves. On their own initiative, fuelled by a desire to help others they have raised a fantastic sum by challenging themselves physically and mentally and have done this at a time when life is demanding for all of us, but particularly for them. It’s an outstanding achievement on behalf of these two charities, for which we have a special affinity and I’m immensely proud of every single one of them.”

Wing Commander Rich Evans
Officer Commanding 4624 Squadron

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