Welcome to my 'Running For RAFBF' JustGiving page.
On the 4th October 2009, I ran the Loch Ness Marathon, raising money for Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund. Taking part in this challenge to date, was the hardest challenge I've taken on with my father.
Why the Loch Ness Marathon?
I ran the marathon with my father (Bob Blanden, who is raising money for Farm Crisis Network) as a father and son achievement, one of our '10 things to do' and decided on a marathon most people don't normally do. Also I wanted to have a big achievement before my 25th Birthday, and time was running out, so the day before my 25th, I did this!
My father had suffered with pre-marathon injuries and nearly couldn't do it. But with physcio help and support from people, my father was able to take on the challenge. Originally he was going to walk with little running but other runnerss, we managed to completely the first half in 3 hours.
Thats was when my father after running mostly the first 10 miles, started to have problems with knee, calf and back problems, and took it with some running and gaining walking amounts. We continue the next half of the marathon walking for 10 miles, until after major encouragement and sudden boost of energy, my father ran the last 3 miles on and off. I am very proud of my father completing this marathon.
Our time was 6:37 hours, and we finished in 2153th and 2154th positions.
Why run for RAFBF?
I'm a serving member of the Royal Air Force, and have been in over 6 years, and within that time, I have been personally donating money to the RAFBF, but this time, I wanted to help make a large contribution, to the hard work that they do, and what better way than do something amazing than a life time achievement and get some sponsorship at the same time!
A little about the RAFBF
The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund was set up by Lord Trenchard in 1919, a year after the Royal Air Force was formed. It was designed to help serving members of the RAF and their families, and still does today. RAFBF is the RAF’s leading welfare charity, they have spent over £12m building and equipping 26 childcare centres on RAF stations. The fund helps people by many means, this can be as simple as giving a family a weekend away at one of the funds respite homes or paying next of kin a cash sum within 24 hours of a family members death to help with funeral payments etc.
Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - Helping me raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for RAFBF.
So please help me by donating now, and thank you for visiting my page!
Tom Blanden
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Offline Donations (More to be added.)
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Denise Lishman - £5.00
Laura Allen - £26.00
Thank you to those who sponsor me else where. I will put your names on here as appreciation for it.
