Trio to take on huge fundraising challenge for Dambusters 80th anniversary

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, fundraiser Ruth Bridges is taking on a huge challenge to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund.

Ruth will be taking part in this year's Dambusters 100 mile cycle ride out of Woodhall Spa on the 13th May 2023. Following this, on the 16-17th May, the same dates the historical Dambusters Raid took place, Ruth will be flying Guy Gibson’s route out to the Dams – around 12 hours flying time and 900,000 miles distance. Ruth will be flying alongside Charlie Benn, a flying instructor from Go Fly Oxford and her 10-year-old son Hudson Benn.

The annual Dambusters Ride pays tribute to the Dambusters, members of the RAF's 617 Squadron who were assembled to bomb three dams in Germany's Ruhr Valley on the night of 16-17 May 1943 – also known as Operation Chastise. This year marks 80 years since the risky raid, in which the revolutionary bouncing bomb, the brainchild of engineer Barnes Wallis, was dropped at low level on Germany’s industrial heartland in the Ruhr Valley. The mission was a success, but the cost was high; of 133 aircrew who left, 53 were killed and three became prisoners of war.

Ruth said: "The Dambusters Ride is a great event – I took part in it last year and it’s wonderful meeting other people and seeing the sights of Lincolnshire. The flight to the Dams will be an experience and what better time to do it than the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid?!

"The RAF Benevolent Fund is a brilliant charity – there is so much going on in the world, sometimes people forget about those who leave the RAF. But the Fund is there for veterans, serving personnel and their families, and provide amazing support for the RAF Family which is why I'm raising money for them."

The Dambusters Ride consists of two elements: a Virtual Ride on the weekend of 20-21 May and a Heritage Ride taking place in Lincolnshire on Saturday 13 May. 
For more information and to register for this year's event, please click here.

You can donate to Ruth, Charlie and Hudson’s fundraising page by clicking here.