Air squadron students take on relay challenge for charities

Students from Tayside and Fife will compete in a running challenge to raise funds for NHS charities.

Dundee, Abertay and St Andrews university students will play their part in running a 10,200km relay in their gardens.

Organised by the RAF’s University Air Squadron, 12 teams from across the UK will run the distance of RAF Lossiemouth to RAF Akrotiri – the most northern base in Scotland to the most easterly permanent base in Cyprus.

The challenge starts on Thursday evening but the fundraiser has already amassed more than £2,000 in aid of NHS charities.

Around 25 members from the East of Scotland’s squadron will run as part of a parallel continuous relay.

The challenge will continue during the night, as one person from the team must be running at all times.

The squadron’s progress will be tracked online and is expected to take up to one week to complete.

Group Captain Ian Sharrocks, Commandant Number 6 Flying Training School, said: “During this particularly challenging period, I am justifiably proud of our UAS Cadets, coming together from across the nation to complete this innovative fundraising event.

“The UAS Garden Relay in aid of the NHS has involved a huge co-ordinated effort from all of the cadets. Their determination, ingenuity and resolve to complete it has been incredible.”

Squadron Leader Richard Kellett, Officer Commanding Cambridge University Air Squadron, said: “What started out as a Cambridge University Air Squadron initiative to raise funds for the NHS has now developed into a joint effort from the UAS community.”

To donate, visit httips: https://www. justgiving.com/fundraising/uasgarden-relay

I am justifiably proud of our UAS Cadets, coming together from across the nation to complete this innovative fundraising event