Most years 23 Squadron attempts a feat of physical hardship to raise money for two local Lincolnshire Charities. The first is the Squadron's Charity because some of us have been helped by STRUT in the past. STRUT stands for Short Term Respite Unit Trust. The other charity is the Station's charity which is the Lincoln Hospital Renal Unit. Both charities are extremely deserving and under normal circumstances we would raise about £15,000.

2006 - Post Christmas Slim-Down - Result

OK, the final weigh-in has taken place and we have a winner of the 23% of total donations for this charity event. Just to recap the event, at the beginning of January, 67 23 Sqn personnel weighed themselves and the details recorded. At the beginning of April, as many of the original 67 that were available weighed-in again (50 personnel). From the two sets of figures, a total weight loss was calculated.

Before I get to the result, the event organiser would like to thank everyone who took part in the event - both weight-losers (and gainers in some cases) and sponsors.

The event didn't quite reach the target (£10,000) set by the organiser at the beginning of the year - in fact it fell way short. The total amount of money raised was £851. Of this, £655 (77%) will go to the nominated charities and £196 (23%) will go the the sponsor(s) who guessed either the exact weight loss or closest to it. There were two sponsors who guessed the nearest and they each received £98.

OK, so what was the final weight loss? Well, it was a total of 166 lbs - or 11 st 12 lbs - or 75.3Kg.

The charities that will benefit from this event are (in no particular order):

Lincolnshire Air Ambulance
Cancer Research
STRUT (Short Term Respite Unit Trust)
LEPRA (helps leprosy suffers in Africa)
Cheshire Homes
First Response (volunteer assistance to Lincolnshire Ambulance Service)
Pakistan/India Earthquake Appeal

Thank you.

2005 Event

A couple of Flt Eng's have a bee in their bonnet. MACR Andy Beacham explains.... "At the beginning of July, myself and MACR Mark Emmott from 23 Sqn, along with FS Derek Gray from 216 Sqn, are hoping to complete a non-stop motorcycle ride from Lands' End to John O'Groats, to raise money for the St Barnabas Hospice Trust in Lincoln. The three of us were on the same Aircrew Initial Training course, and coincidentally we all ride BMW motorcycles. The challenge will involve pre-positioning at Lands' End, before setting off northbound at first light to complete the 874 miles to John O'Groats non-stop apart from fuel stops. It is estimated that the ride will take between fourteen and eighteen hours to reach the final destination. With pre-positioning and recovery, it is expected that the total mileage during the challenge will be approximately 2,000! Anyone wishing to sponsor this most worthwhile cause, please contact Andy Beacham or Mark Emmott on No 23 Sqn 01522 726707. Thank you" Good luck lads - I hope the weather holds for you.

Bike Ride Update

Andy, Mark and Derek completed the motorbike ride over the Airshow weekend (the things some people will do to avoid the working weekend!). The only casualty was the gearbox on Mark's BMW bike - I daresay that will cost him a pretty penny to put right! Over the course of the weekend, the lads covered about 1900 miles in the saddle. Congratulations and well done lads.

Previous Events

We normally perform something like walking the length of the Viking Way, a public right of way in Lincolnshire which runs 147 miles from the Humber Bridge past RAF Waddington (our home station) to Oakham in Rutland. In 2002 when we started planning the 2003 event, we thought we would do the 3 Peaks challenge - however due to Foot and Mouth restrictions we had to give up on the idea.

At this point the Sqn Charities Committee retreated for a tactical rethink. "I know!" a voice was heard to shout, "We'll do a calendar like the Women's Institute, they were really successful and had a great time in the process." Thus the idea was carried forward and those of us with a shy nature prayed that the then Boss wouldn't like it, but wouldn't you know it, he thought it a great idea because it would be easier to fit around the serious business of operations. Thus the calendar contains twelve months of 23 Squadron at work, often on board one of the seven Sentry AEW Mk 1 Aircraft, in not a lot more than a pair of boots (and occasionally some appropriately placed tinsel). I must point out for those of you who have not seen the Women's Institute calendar from a few years ago, the style is carefully positioned tasteful photographs of people in the nude (but with no rude bits on display). The calendar was a great success, making the national papers and almost all of the 5000 printed were sold.