Three local fundraisers are celebrating after winning awards for their commitment to a national military charity. Flight Sergeant Michelle Rees-Martin and Corporal Ash Oldroyd-Clarke, both stationed at RAF College Cranwell, received trophies at the Royal Air Forces Association’s annual conference.
RAF Cranwell received the Lord Tedder Trophy for raising £19,078 for the charity’s Wings Appeal in 2018, the highest collection of any station in the country. Michelle and Ash, who are both RAF Association Liaison Officers (RAFALOs) at the station accepted the trophy.
Michelle said:
“We put a lot of hard work into fundraising over the last year since I became Senior RAFALO, and despite being such a small team Ash and I did everything we could to raise more money than any other RAF station in the UK.”
Ash received the Wally Marriott Trophy as RAFALO of the Year. He said:
“Michelle and I ensured there was always something going on, from our Santa run to events with Cranwell Primary School. We also worked with the Association’s Cranwell Branch to help raise this great total for the charity.”
Mike Smith, Secretary of the Association’s Cranwell Branch, received a National Presidential Certificate for his 18 years of service to the charity, which supports the wellbeing of the RAF family.
Mike, who retired from the RAF in 1993, said:
“I’ve been very active in the Cranwell Branch since joining in 2001 – you have to keep the grey matter active once you retire, as I learned when I worked in resettlement!
“Ash and Michelle at RAF Cranwell managed to raise an incredible amount last year. Everyone at Cranwell Branch was proud to be involved, and this year we’ve got even more events planned.”
For more information on the RAF Association’s Cranwell Branch, including details on how to become a member of the Association, visit www.rafa.org.uk/cranwell
Notes to editors:
Contacts
Alex Scoppie, Communications Officer, RAF Association – 0116 268 8755 or alex.scoppie@rafa.org.uk
Emma Reed, Communications Manager, RAF Association – 0116 464 5066 or emma.reed@rafa.org.uk
About the Royal Air Forces Association
The Royal Air Forces Association (or RAF Association) is a membership organisation and registered charity that provides welfare support to the RAF family.
The Association recognises that RAF personnel and their immediate families dedicate their lives to their country, and we believe that such a sacrifice should not result in suffering, poverty or loneliness.
Whether it’s an injured airman or woman fighting to get back on their feet, a young child missing their parent away on overseas operations, or a World War II veteran needing a shoulder to lean on, we are here to help all generations of RAF personnel and their families. We also support serving families if they need us. We give practical, emotional and financial support.
Our membership of 74,000 includes serving RAF personnel, veterans and members of the public who want to show their support for the work that we do.
Across the UK in 2017 the Association carried out more than 115,000 welfare contacts, calls and visits, helped tell thousands of bedtime stories to children whose parents were away on operations, and gave tailored holidays to 2,500 RAF veterans, widows and family at our Wings Breaks hotels.
Our support ranges from simply providing conversation and friendship to preparing and submitting application forms for financial assistance.
Charity numbers: 226686 (England and Wales), SCO37673 (Scotland).
