RAF Coningsby serviceman to complete 10 races in memory of RAF colleague who died playing rugby

A serviceman based at RAF Coningsby is taking part in 10 running events – a combination of marathons, half marathons and 10Ks – this year to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF's leading welfare charity.

Chief Technician Mike Williams lives in Tattershall and has been in the Royal Air Force for 18 years. He decided to take on this fundraising challenge in memory of his Boston Buccaneers teammate Senior Aircraftman Scott Stevenson. Scott passed away in September 2019 following a head injury sustained during an inter-services Rugby League fixture.

Mike said: "This is a personal challenge for me: now that I'm 40, I wanted to mark the occasion by pushing myself more than ever before. Needless to say, this should be sufficiently tough!

"I decided along the way to dedicate this challenge in honour of Scott by raising money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, his family's charity of choice. He was a valued member of the Boston Buccaneers and his passing came as a complete shock to the entire rugby world, so this is an opportunity to remember him whilst giving something back."

The 10 events Mike will be taking part in cover a total distance of almost 200 miles, but over the course of 2020 he plans to run 1,500 miles taking into account training and other runs outside of the fundraising challenge. The races Mike will be taking part in are as follows:

• 23 February: Leicestershire Half
• 1 March: Warwick Half
• 29 March: Sheffield Half
• 19 April: Longhorn Marathon
• May: Event TBC
• 7 June: Woodhall 10K
• 28 June: Humber Half
• July*: Hurricane 80K challenge
• 9 August: Newark Half
• 13 September: Great North Run

The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, specialist advice on benefits, support with care needs, and more.

Lisa Hunt, RAF Benevolent Fund Regional Fundraiser, added: "Mike's challenge is absolutely epic, spanning the course of seven months, and we’re extremely grateful that he’s chosen to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund while paying tribute to his teammate.

"Amongst many other services, the Fund offers bereavement support and various emotional wellbeing initiatives to help look after not only those who are serving in the RAF, but veterans and the families of current and former members of the RAF, too."

In 2019, the RAF Benevolent Fund celebrated its 100th anniversary. To mark the centenary, it launched an ambitious three-year campaign aimed at doubling the number of beneficiaries it supports. The Join The Search. Change a Life campaign encourages the public to help get thousands of RAF veterans and their families ‘back on the radar’ and, if they need it, accessing support that is rightfully theirs.

* The Hurricane 80K challenge is a virtual event organised by the RAF Museum. This is typically completed over the course of 80 days, but Mike will be completing this in a single weekend in July.