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You find members of the RAF Family everywhere!

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Working for RAFBF

Community fundraiser Rebecca McGeorge was one of RAF Benevolent Fund staff who went along to Crufts last week. Here she gives her impressions of the world famous dog show.

I have spent the last four days chatting to dog owners about the work of the RAF Benevolent Fund and how we support serving and retired RAF personnel.

We had been invited this year by the RAF Police Dogs Display Team who are supporting our centenary campaign to double the number of people we support over the next three years.

Their main arena display recreated the Fund's 'human radar' and helped to raise awareness of our pledge to reach 100,000 RAF veterans we know are in urgent need of support.

As well as meeting so many beautiful pooches of all shapes and sizes, it's been a privilege to chat to people with a connection to the RAF Family.

One lady was in tears when she discovered her recently widowed mother, who had been going through a tough time, was very much part of the RAF Family and therefore eligible for support.

Equally it was an honour to meet two sisters who came to tell us how they had grown up on RAF stations around the world while their father fought for our freedoms in the Battle of Britain and continued to serve after the end of the Second World War.

The Fund's research tells us one in three of us know someone who served in the RAF - and I can see how that's true. What all of these people have in common is their pride in their friends' or relatives' service for their country.

Sadly it's also pride on the part of the veteran which prevents them from seeking the help they so clearly need and that's why we've been asking everyone we meet to let us know if they know someone in need.