December 11, 2014 11.23 am This story is over 117 months old

Cycling RAF engineers raise over £10k for Lincoln memorial

A Ride to Remember: Lincolnshire RAF engineers have raised thousands for a Lincoln memorial by cycling 365 miles on four days.

The BBMF team raised over £10,000 for the International Bomber Command Centre, to be built in Lincoln. Photo: International BCC

Some seven engineers from Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF), based at RAF Coningsby, have raised over £10,000 in aid of the upcoming International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln.

On Sunday, October 12 the engineers put foot to pedal in order to cover 365 miles in just four days.

The group raised a total of £10,479 after they rode between RAF stations across the country.

Their poignant journey started from the London Bomber Command Memorial in Green Park, which was unveiled in June 2012.

They then toured operational air bases including RAF High Wycombe, RAF Halton, RAF Wyton, RAF Wittering, RAF Coningsby, RAF Waddington, RAF Scampton, RAF Linton-on-Ouse and RAF Leeming.

The lads took with them collection buckets and also ran two direct donation pages through Just Giving, where they held an on-line auction for money can’t buy prizes.

The sum will help to provide the education peripherals for the Schools element of the Chadwick Centre.

The International Bomber Command Centre will be built on Canwick Hill in Lincoln, with a completion date of June 2015 set.

Aerial view of the Lincoln Bomber Command Memorial, with the spire and interpretation centre.

Aerial view of the Lincoln Bomber Command Memorial, with the spire and interpretation centre.

Leader of the ‘Ride to Remember’, Corporal Matthew Marriott, said: “It is an honour to have raised funds for this worthy cause. Spending time working with Thumper has made us aware of the history of Bomber Command and the sacrifices that those 55,573 men made when they gave their lives for our freedom.

“Our ride was long and hard but it didn’t compare what those serving in the Command during WW2 went through on a daily basis.”

Tony Worth, Chairman of the Lincolnshire Bomber Command Memorial Trust, added: “The Ride to Remember team has done a marvellous job not only in raising this money but in helping us to spread the story.

“We are delighted that so many people supported their enormous efforts. To know that serving members of today’s RAF are supporting and honouring those who served in Bomber Command makes me hugely proud.”