Cyclists complete epic 600-mile ‘Riding on Air’ challenge raising £58,000 for Fund
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Bolton businessman and lifelong cycling enthusiast Andrew Crompton and a team of 15 riders have completed a gruelling eight-day challenge, covering more than 600 miles between RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, Scotland and RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire.
The Riding on Air cycle challenge, which took place between 12-19 September 2025, has raised over £58,000 so far for the RAF Benevolent Fund and its flagship youth support programme, Airplay.
With approximately 34,000 children in the RAF Family, research shows their greatest worries are deployment, frequent home moves, leaving friends behind, and disrupted education – challenges that can impact emotional wellbeing, often causing heightened anxiety and isolation. Airplay, established by the RAF Benevolent Fund in 2010 and delivered by One YMCA, provides children and young people aged five to 18 a safe, enjoyable space to learn and connect with peers across 24 RAF stations, providing vital continuity for families as they relocate.
The Riding on Air route took the team through RAF stations including Lossiemouth, Leeming, Waddington and Wyton, with riders averaging between 60-90 miles per day in the saddle. At each stop, participants met RAF personnel, Airplay youth workers, and children from RAF families, gaining first-hand insight into the impact of the programme they had supported.
Andrew, who has previously completed two major long-distance cycle rides – Manchester to Melbourne (15,000 km, raising £211,000) and Go Asia from Bangkok to Saigon (1,100 km, raising £170,000) – set an ambitious fundraising target of £60,000 for the challenge.
Andrew said: "Completing the challenge was a combination of relief and euphoria, mixed with a little sadness that it was all over. It took months to organise, and the ride itself was physically very demanding – averaging 130kms a day, climbing 5,000 ft, often in tough conditions.
"The highlight was the camaraderie of the team. Everyone supported and encouraged each other, and the good humour made the whole trip memorable. The biggest challenges were the huge amount of planning and the physicality of riding most days into strong headwinds – it really did feel like pedalling through treacle!"
He added: "We’re absolutely delighted to have raised over £58,000 and can’t thank everyone who has donated enough. Raising money for Airplay means a lot to us – it’s our way of showing respect and gratitude to serving personnel, while helping ensure their children are supported through the incredible programmes the RAF Benevolent Fund provides."
Rowena Finch, Senior Relationships Manager at the Fund, said: "We are enormously grateful to Andrew and the Riding on Air team for their dedication and commitment to the Fund. Their efforts will help us continue providing the vital support Airplay offers to thousands of RAF children and young people across the UK."
Supporters can back the team by donating via JustGiving.