Jacob the Pilot to take on Five Dams in Five Days in £100K pledge of support for Fund

On 18 August 2025, Jacob Newson, known as Jacob the Pilot, will take on a 200km cycle ride and wild camp across Germany to raise money for the Fund.

Jacob’s five-day fundraising challenge with start at the Eder Dam and finish at the Bever Dam, locations that were part of the Dambusters Raid during the Second World War.

Jacob, 11, said: “I first started fundraising for the Fund in 2019 after I met the Red Arrows when I was five years old. To date, I have raised approximately £55,000 for the Fund, mainly taking on Second World War RAF themed challenges and climbing mountains.”

Jacob has been dedicated to supporting the RAF Family since 2019 and has completed challenges including climbing Pen-y-Ghent and the Three Peaks in Yorkshire; walking 30 miles in two days from RAF Manston in Ramsgate to the Battle of Britain Memorial in Folkestone; and trekking Ben Nevis. In 2021, Jacob won the ‘Above and Beyond’ Award at the prestigious RAF Benevolent Fund Annual Awards Ceremony.

In 2024, Jacob received a Pride of Britain Award for his commitment to fundraising and was awarded his envelope from a Red Arrows pilot at RAF Waddington.

Jacob said: “In 2019 I met Squadron Leader Johnny Johnson DFM, MBE, who was the last surviving member of 617 Squadron that took part in the infamous Dambusters Raid over Germany in 1943, during the Second World War. He told me about his role in the operation as an RAF pilot flying in Lancaster bombers, which helped underpin my love of aircraft and my ambition to become a pilot in the RAF when I'm older.

“Now, I’m finally old enough I’m going to cycle across Germany visiting the five dams and wild camping over five days as a tribute to all of 617 Squadron who took part in this raid. I hope to raise as much as I can to support the RAF Family that I hope to be part of one day.”

Jacob will be cycling and camping the route with his father Andrew. Jacob said he is looking forward to “getting a new bike and cycling across the Germany countryside with my dad.”

Jacob added: “Please sponsor me if you can and share my fundraiser with friends and family in the hope that they’ll sponsor me as well. My mission is to reach a grand total of £100,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund before I join the Air Cadets in 2026.

Ben Alonso, Director of Fundraising at the Fund said: “We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Jacob for his unwavering support of the Fund. His commitment to supporting the RAF Family is nothing short of inspiring, and we’re proud to stand behind him as he takes on his incredible challenge this August.”

“I will be so happy to reach this overall target as I know the money I raise will make a big difference to people’s lives who are connected to the RAF, from children to RAF veterans.”

You can support Jacob’s fundraising challenge on JustGiving.