Family take on sponsored walk in honour of RAF daughter’s memory

On 10 February, members of the RAF Family completed a sponsored walk to honour the memory of Flight Sergeant Carrianne Franks and raise money for the Fund.

Carrianne’s parents Chris and Beverley (Bev) Franks, from Nottinghamshire decided to mark what would have been their daughter’s 33rd birthday on 8 February, with a 33 kilometre (20.5 mile) walk in her memory.

The Franks family were joined on the walk by Carrianne’s friends and members of the RAF Family including serving personnel.

Carrianne was infected with tuberculosis while assisting medics during the Covid-19 pandemic. Due to a delay in diagnosis, Carrianne passed away in 2021, following an eight-week stay in hospital where her health rapidly deteriorated.

Bev said: “Just before Covid-19, Carrianne was posted to a hospital in London where she worked on the intensive care unit supporting her NHS colleagues with nursing care.

“Throughout the pandemic, Carrianne continued to work in the hospital on the frontline caring for Covid patients and was one of the first nurses to work in the Nightingale Hospital in London.”

Once the Covid pandemic started to ease, Carrianne was promoted and returned to RAF Brize Norton working on the Tactical Medical Wing supporting sick and injured military personnel.

Bev continued: “Carrianne started to become ill in July 2021 – she was admitted to two hospitals within eight weeks. After many false diagnoses of both Covid and pneumonia, she was finally diagnosed with TB. She died the next day.”

Bev said: “Carrianne was funny, gregarious, tenacious, dedicated and a stickler for the rules, whilst still being loving and passionate about things and the people she cared about.

Bev added: “The RAF Benevolent Fund is a charity close to Carrianne's heart as she completed many fundraising events on their behalf. We will be walking to celebrate a life that was far too short and hope to raise as much money as possible to assist these valuable charities.”

The money raised will be shared equally between their chosen charities, the RAF Benevolent Fund and TB Alert. The team have raised over £5400 so far.

You can donate to the fundraiser here.