The RAF Honington Cycling Club has received 4 brand new bikes with a grant from the RAF Central Fund, just in time for the Club to get ‘back on track’ as Covid restrictions continue to ease.
Sergeant Jon Vogel of the Station Cycling Club reached out to the RAF Central Fund for a grant following the ever-growing popularity of cycling, particularly during periods of Lockdown, and the need to enhance their current fleet of cycles.
Working with the well-known family run business Mick’s Cycles of Bury St. Edmunds, Sergeant Vogel took receipt of the new Merida Big Trail Bikes from Mick’s earlier this month. Sergeant Vogel said: “These new bikes will enable Station personnel to loan a bike which they can use to support physical and mental health and wellbeing. They can also be used for social club rides and charity support. It’s key that we give back to the RAF Central Fund for facilitating this endeavour. Club members can now move away from a bleak winters training, largely indoors, and take their training outdoors, utilising local routes including Thetford Forest.”
Station Commander Group Captain Dutch Holland said:
We are delighted to receive our shiny new bikes, courtesy of the RAF Central Fund and supplied by Mick’s Cycles; perfect timing as we get all our clubs back up and running after Covid. I am looking forward to seeing them not so shiny as they are put to good use!
And the bikes have been put to good use straight away as four personnel from RAF Honington took on the recent Captain Tom 100 Challenge. They each cycled 25 miles, off-road, and raised over £280 for the Captain Tom Foundation.
RAF Central Fund CEO Ross Perriam said: “We have definitely seen a change in the grant funding requests we have received as a result of the pandemic with more applications for equipment that supports at home workouts and outdoor exercise. We are delighted that we have been able to continue to support serving personnel in this way which in turn helps to safeguard their physical and mental health. Our Enrichment Grant programme is designed to support Stations with a view to increasing the number of personnel participating in sport and physical activities and we hope that the bikes at Honington go some way to achieving this.”
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