This time of year is not easy for everyone, but Christmas will be significantly brighter for local veterans thanks to Leeming personnel, who worked with the RAF Benevolent Fund to create something truly magical.
Created to put together festive hampers for some of the region's most vulnerable veterans, Op Christmas was more successful than the organisers could have ever imagined.
Starting with a generous £500 donation from the RAF Benevolent Fund, the team comprising Sgts Matty Mahoney and Martin Sapey, Cpls Chloe Swales, Rick Gray, Mrs Karen Lockhart and Mrs Sally Sapey reached out across Station requesting gift donations. The response was incredible, resulting in the careful selection and crafting of 20 hampers and 37 tote bags, each containing at least four presents along with some tasty treats. Hand-written cards from Arthur, Myla, Alasdair, and Ava-Lillie Mrs Dougherty’s Year 4 class of RAF Leeming County Primary School were the final flourish.
In addition to being individually delivered to older veterans in the area, bags were delivered to The Beacon at Catterick, which offers supported housing to vulnerable veterans.
Matty said: "The residents of The Beacon were made up when we came along - we had a good chat with some of them, who will be spending Christmas together. The response to our gift appeal was incredible — we received 140 gifts, making this our most successful year yet! A huge thank you to everyone who donated and helped us spread joy this Christmas."
