On 31st March the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund celebrated the
90th birthday of the RAF with an event at Edinburgh Castle, where the ‘Reaching Out Campaign’ was announced.

The event saw the Benevolent Fund's Controller, Air Marshal Sir Rob Wright, mark the date by passing two limited edition copies of the books 'So Many' and 'So Few' to Air Officer Scotland, Air Cdre Clive Bairsto, Station Commander RAF Leuchars.

After the presentation, the Band of the RAF Regiment beat Retreat followed by the Sunset Ceremony and a fly past of Tornado fighter jets from RAF Leuchars over the Castle. The parade closed with the Pipe Band from RAF Leuchars playing outside the Scottish National War Memorial.

Sir Rob Wright said, “We are launching our ‘Reaching Out Campaign’ on the 90th anniversary of the RAF’s birthday to remind all those people who’ve served in the RAF, past and present, that the RAF Benevolent Fund is their charity and that we are here to help them through difficult times.

"Since Scotland is one of the main hubs of the RAF community, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to announce this campaign at Edinburgh Castle, in the presence of Air Officer Scotland and our many friends and supporters here.”

If you think you may be eligible for help please call us on 0800 169 2942 or click here to apply online.

One of only six women awarded the Military Medal during the Second World War, for bravery under fire during the Battle of Britain, Avis Parsons passed away last month at the age of 91.

Avis joined the Auxiliary Territorial Service in 1939, training as a radio operator in the use of radar, or what was then known as ‘Radio Direction Finding’.  She had no uniform other than a beret and badge until 1940, when she was posted to a new station at Poling near Arundel.

On August 18th her base was attacked by 31 German Stuka dive bombers, causing major damage to her building and threatening it with collapse. Despite the danger Avis remained at her post, operating the telephones throughout the attack. At the time, Air Commodore Gregory, commander of 60 Group, said her actions displayed ‘courage and devotion to duty of the highest order’.

For the last decade she had been a resident of Princess Marina House, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund’s care home at Rustington near Littlehampton. Staff at the home said she had a personality ‘that earned her widespread friendship, admiration and respect’ and that she will be sorely missed by all.

Two cousins from Lowestoft have raised money for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund this April, by rallying across the streets of Europe in a car they bought for only £250.

The Coyote Banger Rally, which ran from April 3rd to April 7th, takes in Calais, Paris, Munich, Prague and Amsterdam. It is a test of endurance for driver and car as every entrant must buy a vehicle especially, and for no more than £500. It’s not a race, but a test of the car’s ability to survive – and of the driver’s patience!

SAC Dan Lee and his cousin, Cpl Paul Lee, both serving members of the Royal Air Force, completed the rally in a used Peugeot 405 Estate, decorated in RAF Benevolent Fund roundels to reflect their fundraising cause.

They competed with 120 other vehicles, including an ambulance and a three-wheeler. Dan and Paul's car needed constant oil top-ups and by the end the wipers no longer worked and the doors wouldn't open, but it managed to limp home.

Dan said, ‘The rally was great fun and a good opportunity to raise money for the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, which is a really important charity to anyone serving in the Air Force. We might well need their help one day ourselves.’

The RAFBF can now convert your used inkjet printer cartridges into money which helps to fund our valuable welfare work. Recycling also helps to conserve our planet for the future.

Did you know that:

• over 30 million printer cartridges are thrown away in the UK each year?
• almost 27 million of these unwanted printer cartridges can be recycled or reused?
• the RAFBF receives £1 for each inkjet printer cartridge we recycle?

So donate your old printer inkjet cartridges today by sending an email with the subject 'Printer Cartridge Recycling' together with your name and address and we will send you a prepaid, pre-addressed recycling bag. Simply put your old cartridges in the bag, seal it, and place it in the post. No stamps are required. Please note that we cannot recycle Epson cartridges.

In November last year The Band of the Royal Air Force College was given the honour of opening the 35th and final British Military Music Show in the Munsterland Halle, Munster in Northern Germany. British Forces have been stationed in Germany for over sixty years forging a strong bond with the country, and their shared passion for military music was on full display during these few days.

As a major part of the show The Band of the Royal Air Force College was a given a portion of the proceeds to donate to a charity of their choice. This amounted to £3,571, which the Band decided to donate to the RAF Benevolent Fund.

After receiving the cheque at the RAF Cranwell band room, Nicola James, the Fund's Head of Regional Fundraising, said, 'RAF Bands raise a great deal of money for service charities and we are very honoured to receive this large donation which will assist the Charity in its work with RAF members, past and present, who find themselves in difficulty.'

Ebay for charity is easy way to support the RAF Benevolent Fund when selling your unwanted items on eBay. By becoming an eBay Community Seller you can choose to donate a percentage, or all, of your item's final selling price to the Fund.

eBay has partnered with MissionFish, a non-profit service provider, to manage the donation process, so you don't have to. This includes claiming Gift Aid on your donation if you have made a Gift Aid declaration, which means that the HM Revenue & Customs will donate an additional 28p for every pound that you give to the RAFBF.

eBay for Charity listings are unique

All eBay for Charity listings are integrated into the main eBay site, so buyers can find them easily. Additionally, the programme has several unique features that help your listings stand out:

• Buyers can search for eBay for Charity listings through Advanced Search and customised search options.
• Each eBay for Charity listing has a distinctive blue and yellow ribbon in search results and the title bar. It also has information about your donation amount and the RAFBF in the item description.
• Buyers can also search for listings on the dedicated eBay for Charity page.

To find out more about how to support our welfare work by becoming an eBay Community Seller visit www.ebay.co.uk

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On Friday 25th April, Andrew Russell, a long-term supporter of the RAF Benevolent Fund, is putting on a concert at Camborne Centenary Church to raise funds for the Charity.

National competition winners The Camborne Youth Band and 1225 St Austell ATC Corps of Drums will be performing .

Adult entry is £4 and Children go free.

EMAIL FOR MORE INFO >>

everyclick.com is an internet search engine with a big difference - it donates half its revenues to charity. If you use everyclick.com as your search engine every search you do can raise money for Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

It does not cost us, or you, a penny - so please use it - and pass the message on!