RAF Honington Golf Team take on D-Day 80 Golf Challenge for the Fund

On Thursday 6 June, the RAF Honington Golf Team will be taking on a 72-hole Golf Challenge to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.

The challenge is for a team of four golfers to complete three local golf courses between 7am and sundown on the D-Day anniversary, known as ‘the longest day’.

The team will be playing at Diss, Thetford and Flempton golf courses in Suffolk over an estimated 16 hours and covering approximately 20 miles.

Squadron Leader Joe Birch, 36, from Bury St. Edmunds, is the Training Lead at Combat Readiness Force HQ and Captain of the RAF Honington Golf Team. He said: “I created this event as a challenge to raise funds and awareness and show our thanks to the Fund for the continuous support of the RAF Family.

“The RAF Benevolent Fund is such an integral part of the RAF fabric – we really wanted to help raise awareness and promote the good work the Fund does. When you stop and look around Station, the Fund logo is everywhere, from a £500K grant to support the nursery just off camp; the gym equipment; the water coolers; the Playparks around camp, and more.

“The Fund is a great altruistic charity that supports the RAF and its people in more ways than one can imagine. It’s our turn to help, raise funds and awareness for this great cause. We are lucky to have the RAF Benevolent Fund by our side.”

To prepare for the event the team have taken part in a few training sessions on the range and practice rounds.

Joe said: “We are most looking forward to the team buzz; that moment before you begin when everyone is gearing up to get started, when it’s just breaking first light and everywhere is slowly waking up – you are good to go!”

You can donate to the team’s fundraiser here.