http://www.rafbf.org/76/blog.htmlWe recently had a visit from Sergeant Alex Ford, who you probably know as the RAF airman blogger. Alex wanted to find out a bit more about our work, so he spent a morning at one of our grants meetings.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1664/friends-of-the-family.html1664This year to celebrate Valentine’s Day we are featuring the partners of RAF personnel – the stalwarts of the RAF family. Yvonne Costin, who lives at RAF Conningsby, tells us more in this blog post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1624/married-to-the-regiment.html1624This year to celebrate Valentine’s Day we are focusing on the partners of RAF personnel – the stalwarts of the RAF family. In this blog post we hear from Christopher Leader who balances a busy role in the City while supporting his partner, Mark, who is chief of staff at RAF Benson.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1629/valentines-blogs-christopher-leader.html1629This Valentine’s Day we are focusing on the partners of RAF personnel – the unsung stalwarts of the RAF family. Karen Nunns is married to an RAF technician, Jon. Karen tells us more in this blog post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1633/raf-family-the-best-friends-in-the-world.html1633Mick Kiff is an army corporal currently serving in a tri-service unit. Mick has come up with a great idea to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and our partner charities - ABF The Soldiers Charity and the Royal Naval Benevolent Trust. Mick tells us more in this blog post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1599/akrotiri-to-brize-norton.html1599The RAF Benevolent Fund has teamed up with Trollbeads, the Danish charm jewellery company, to create a unique glass bead featuring our famous heart roundel.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1582/royal-air-force-trollbeads.html1582This year is the 70th anniversary of the RAF Regiment, the RAF’s specialist unit that defends airfields. In this blog post Flight Lieutenant Andy Costin tells us why he joined the RAF Regiment.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1589/raf-regiment--70-proud-years.html1589Our Edinburgh office had a welcome visit from the Riders Branch of the Royal British Legion Scotland yesterday.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1567/scottish-bikers-show-their-support.html1567Squadron Leader Anthony Downing died in December from injuries sustained in Afghanistan. His friend, Jo Kilkenny, is running 147 miles in his memory to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Jo tells us more in this blog post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1545/147-miles-in-memory.html1545Ben Fellows is an award winning film director who is planning to circumnavigate the globe in a paramotor and make a documentary about the journey. And it’s all to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and our friends at Leonard Cheshire Disability. Ben tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1530/round-the-world-for-charity.html1530You might know him as the RAF’s favourite blogger, who kept us posted from his recent Afghanistan deployment. Sergeant Alex Ford is now running the London Marathon for the RAF Benevolent Fund.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1513/raf-airman---marathon-man.html1513Our supporters have some weird and wonderful ways of raising money for us – but riding round an airfield on a moped dressed as a whoopee cushion? Doug Fowler fills us in about the Odiham mopedathon.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1465/odiham-mopedathon.html14652011 was a busy year for the RAF Benevolent Fund and we’ve had a great response to some of our blog posts. As we enter 2012 let’s look back for a minute at the five most popular blog posts of last year.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1437/top-five-blog-posts-of-2011.html1437A team of very brave civilians have challenged the Royal Air Force to a two man bobsleigh race, in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund. Rosie Gibbons from our fundraising team tells us more:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1435/civilians-v-raf-charity-bobsleigh-challenge.html1435Gaz Ritchie is currently deployed to Afghanistan from RAF Lossiemouth, where his young son is participating in our Airplay project. While he’s deployed, Gaz will be fundraising for the RAF Benevolent Fund. He tells us more in this blog post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1431/fundraising-from-afghanistan-.html1431Graham and Jo Laurie are long time ambassadors for the RAF Benevolent Fund. This year Graham and Jo have entered a RAF Benevolent Fund themed tree in the Great Missenden Christmas Tree Festival.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1417/rafbf-christmas-tree.html1417In his final blog post from his recent Afghan deployment, Wing Commander Simon Ling tells us the NATO presence is making a difference to the people of Afghanistan.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1406/afghan-blog-part-3-making-a-difference.html1406In his second of three blog posts from his recent Afghan deployment, Wing Commander Simon Ling tells us about the work of the RAF’s Medical Emergency Response Team.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1390/afghan-blog-part-2-the-rafs-medical-emergency-response-team.html1390Wing Commander Simon Ling, a long time supporter of the RAF Benevolent Fund, has just completed a six month Afghan deployment as part of a tri-service logistics team. In the first of three blog posts, Simon reveals his impressions of Afghanistan.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1380/afghan-blog-part-1-from-kabul-to-helmand.html1380Growing up on an RAF base isn’t always easy. They are mostly in isolated locations and one of your parents will often be away on deployment or training. That’s why we’ve set up Airplay, our programme to support RAF families and young people.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1357/airplay-drawing-competition.html1357Jacqui Thompson’s husband, Gary, was killed in Afghanistan in 2008 while serving with the RAF Regiment. The RAF Benevolent Fund was there for Jacqui and her daughters at this difficult time. Jacqui tells us what the two minutes silence on Remembrance Day means to her in this blog post:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1329/two-minutes-silence.html1329Richard Kornicki CBE is chairman of the Polish Air Force Memorial Committee, which was formed this year to continue the remembrance of the Polish contribution to the war effort. Here he talks about his father, Franciszek Kornicki, the only surviving Polish squadron commander in the UK, and the great importance of remembrance:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1334/the-black-briefcase.html1334If you watched the Remembrance Special Who Wants To Be A Millionaire last night you’ll know Sergeant Dutch Holland won a fantastic £50,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund. In this blog post Dutch tells us what it was like to be in the hot seat:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1323/dutch-is-a-winner-on-millionaire.html1323By now you will have heard the sad news that Red 5, Flight Lieutenant Sean Cunningham, died after a tragic accident at RAF Scampton.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1320/death-of-red-5.html1320Tomorrow there will be a special Who Wants To Be A Millionaire to mark Remembrance, in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund and our partner charities from the other two services. Sergeant Dutch Holland will be representing the RAF in the show. Dutch tells us more in this blog post:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1316/going-dutch-for-a-million.html1316We had a great response to our Fly with a Spitfire competition, but unfortunately there is only one winner for this fantastic prize, kindly donated by Action Stations!http://www.rafbf.org/76-1306/and-the-winner-is.html1306The RAF Benevolent Fund gets no government funding, so we rely on the generosity of the great British public. A great example of this generosity in action is the fantastic fundraising by the air cadets from 2211 (Bracknell) ATC Squadron.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1285/well-done-2211-squadron-air-cadets.html1285Last year, to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain, the RAF Benevolent Fund ran an online campaign called the 1940 Chronicle. We’re really pleased to let you know that the 1940 Chronicle has won an award – the PR Week award for best in digital and social media.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1267/battle-of-britain-campaign-wins-award.html1267We’re not just there for RAF personnel, we support their children and families as well. Georgia, the daughter of a squadron leader at RAF Odiham, is profoundly deaf, so we stepped in to help. Paul Hewson, our regional director, tells us more.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1246/helping-georgias-hearing.html1246Last week a group of new staff from our London office had the privilege of visiting Princess Marina House, our flagship welfare break centre on the south coast. Glyn Llewellyn, from our welfare team, fills us in:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1231/visit-to-princess-marina-house.html1231Medical personnel from all three armed services stationed at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan are raising money for charity by running, cycling and rowing back to Blighty.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1219/bastion2blighty.html1219Marshall Group is a very successful family run business, comprising of four companies – motor retails, land systems, executive travel, and aerospace. Marshall Group has been a fantastic supporter of the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund for a long time.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1189/marshall-group--supporting-the-raf-benevolent-fund.html1189The RAF Benevolent Fund is committed to supporting members of the RAF family in need. We provide a lot of services ourselves, and we also fund specialist services through our partner charities. Combat Stress is one of those charities.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1176/working-with-combat-stress.html1176Alex Ford is an RAF sergeant who is currently deployed on the Afghan frontline, and has been blogging about his experiences in the field. Today, to mark Battle of Britain Day, Alex has written this guest blog post from Afghanistan.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1155/in-afghanistan-on-battle-of-britain-day.html1155Duncan Slater, a sergeant in the RAF Regiment, lost both legs in a bomb blast in Afghanistan. Duncan wanted to do something to support the RAF Benevolent Fund, so he decided to cycle from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Duncan tells us more in this post:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1126/afghan-hero-tells-his-story.html1126Jade and Peter Harrison grew up in the married quarters in RAF Brize Norton, where their dad is stationed with the RAF. This year they completed an amazing challenge to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1096/climbing-mountains-for-the-raf-family.html1096A team of eight RAF personnel based at RAF High Wycombe have set off on an epic cycling challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. http://www.rafbf.org/76-1079/relentless-ride.html1079If you’ve been following our blog you’ll already have heard about the Spitfire found in a bog in Ireland. Johnny McNee, a long time supporter of the RAF Benevolent Fund, got permission to excavate the site and recover the Spitfire.http://www.rafbf.org/76-1076/spitfire-in-a-bog--message-from-the-family.html1076A team of ten cyclists from RAF Northolt are going to cycle 1,400 miles from Bari in Italy to London in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund. http://www.rafbf.org/76-1064/eurodash-challenge.html1064By now you will have heard the sad news of the death of Flight Lieutenant Jon Egging, Red 4. Jon died when his T1 Hawk crashed near Bournemouth.http://www.rafbf.org/76-960/red-arrow-crash--sad-loss-of-red-4.html960Team Spitfire is a crew of intrepid RAF sailors who race a yacht also called Spitfire. Skipper Tony Hanlon, a former Harrier pilot, updates us on their progress at Cowes:http://www.rafbf.org/76-1045/spitfire-at-cowes.html1045Airplay is our project supporting young people on RAF stations. Sarah Riley-Evans, a community development officer at RAF Lossiemouth, tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-688/more-airplay-at-raf-lossiemouth-.html688Team Spitfire is an intrepid team of RAF sailors who are proud to support the RAF Benevolent Fund. The team are just about to enter the Cowes annual regatta. Tony Hanlon, a former Harrier pilot, tells us more.http://www.rafbf.org/76-656/spitfire-set-to-conquer-cowes.html656When a member of the RAF family is in need we’re there to help. Sometimes we offer the help ourselves, and sometimes we support partner charities that provide specialist assistance to those in need.http://www.rafbf.org/76-352/supporting-the-raf-family-in-scotland.html352Paul Hewson, our regional director for the south of England, paid a visit to a disabled resident of an RAF Benevolent Fund housing trust property. Paul tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-496/charlie-dimmock-in-the-garden.html496On Tuesday 28 June 2011 RAF Benevolent Fund supporter Jonny McNee began the excavation of a Spitfire from a mountain bog in County Donegal, Ireland, accompanied by aviation archaeologists, university surveyors and a TV production company. In Jonny's second post he tells us about what he found.http://www.rafbf.org/76-400/spitfire-in-a-bog---part-2.html400RAF personnel stationed in Italy for Operation ELLAMY have different ways of spending their limited stand-down hours. Some will catch up on sleep, read a book or play games.http://www.rafbf.org/76-372/raf-corporals-in-charity-bergathon.html372Corporal Mark Squibbs of the RAF Police was part of a team that cycled from RAF Northolt to Edinburgh, ran a half marathon, then cycled back again to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund and Royal British Legion. In this post Mark tells the story of their gruelling challenge.http://www.rafbf.org/76-375/raf-police-raise-14k-for-charity-in-blazing-saddles-challenge.html375Paul Hewson, who leads our regional team for the south of England has been visiting local hospices that support members of the RAF family. Paul tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-370/helping-hospices-that-support-the-raf-family.html370RAF Benevolent Fund supporter Jonny McNee is currently undertaking the first licensed excavation of a World War Two RAF aircraft from within the Republic of Ireland. The project is being filmed as part of a forthcoming three part BBC series - Dig WW2. Jonny tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-398/spitfire-in-a-bog---part-1.html398Team Spitfire is a sailing team that is proud to support the RAF Benevolent Fund. Our famous heart roundel is emblazoned on the sails of their boat, also named Spitfire, and the team are great ambassadors for the charity. Former Harrier pilot, Tony Hanlon has written this post from their latest race in the J80 Class UK National Championships.http://www.rafbf.org/76-402/team-spitfire-rules-the-waves.html402Our boss, Sir Rob Wright, has been in north Wales seeing our work with the RAF family in action. Sir Rob tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-379/rafbf-in-action-in-wales.html379Paul Hewson, who leads our south of England regional team, had a call offering a generous donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund. Paul tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-360/5k-donation-to-the-raf-benevolent-fund.html360Paul Dixon served 46 years in the RAF and in that time never jumped out of an aircraft. So when it was time for Paul to retire, his family had some extreme plans for him. Paul tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-388/skydiving-into-retirement.html388Flight Lieutenant Chris Penneck is going to undertake a gruelling challenge to raise money in memory of two fallen comrades. Chris tells his story in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-385/riding-in-memory-of-fallen-friends.html385A force of cadets will cross the English Channel on 28 May to embark on a challenge which they hope will raise over £4,000 for charity.http://www.rafbf.org/76-363/cadet-d-day-beach-fundraiser-for-military-charities.html363Tim Artus, an instructor at RAF Cranwell, set himself the goal of running the London Marathon with a 40lb backpack.http://www.rafbf.org/76-405/tim-artus---marathon-man.html405A team of four RAF officers have won a £2,500 donation for the RAF Benevolent Fund after securing the number one qualifying position for the high octane Scottish endurance race, The Drambuie Pursuit.http://www.rafbf.org/76-377/raf-team-nail-2500-donation.html377Jade and Peter Harrison grew up in the married quarters at RAF Brize Norton, where their dad is stationed with the RAF. This year they are setting out on the challenge of a lifetime to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Jade tells us more in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-367/climbing-kilimanjaro.html367Lee Cunliffe, a former RAF dog handler, is running his first marathon this year to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund. Lee tells us why in this post.http://www.rafbf.org/76-425/why-im-running-a-marathon-for-the-raf-benevolent-fund.html425