Wing walk in memory of RAF pilot raises money for RAF Benevolent Fund

Rupee Hayes, who lives in Newton, has so far raised more than £4,000 for the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF's leading welfare charity.

Rupee, 50, completed the feat – and conquered her fear of heights – in memory of her husband Flt Lt Jason Hayes, who flew Jaguars and died in a training accident in 2001.

This year would have been his 50th birthday.

Speaking about why she was raising money for the RAF Benevolent Fund she said: "After being widowed the Jaguar force and RAF were totally amazing. The speed and sincerity of the help my father in-law, Flt Lt Lawrence Hayes, received from the Fund recently, post sepsis, helped put him back on his feet and relieved a huge amount of stress and worry from family members."

She added: "It would have been Jase’s 50th birthday this year, he died on the 25 July 2001 and when I looked at the dates for the wing walk the 24th was the slot to me, it was meant to be.

"I didn't want what would have been Jase's 50th year to go by in a morbid fashion, I wanted to celebrate what a wonderful, gifted gentleman he was. I wanted to fill what would normally be a very sad time with positivity and a sense of pride, for everyone."

She added: "Heights scare me and I wanted to do something that was far from easy – for charity. What would be the point of doing something too comfortable?

"I needed an aim and I had to lose a lot of weight, four stones, to be wing-worthy."

To support Rupee's fundraising visit: www.justgiving.com/Rupee-Hayes.

Find out more about doing your own fundraising in memory of a loved one here.