Page 8 - Eagle Eye Winter 2020

Wyton Charities
The word ‘charity’ has Greek origins from the word ‘agape’ - a distinct form of compassion that is unconditional and persists regardless of circumstance. Across RAF Wyton Station’s community there are a remarkable number of efforts where people commit to the act of charity in the truest sense of the word - by giving help to those in need. The modern definition of charity is construed with financial donations, but there are plenty of examples where those based at RAF Wyton have given their time and their effort to support those who need the support.
The Wyton Station Charities committee is a compilation of representatives from different business areas across the Station. The aim of the committee is to help people who would like to become involved in charity, either by providing guidance on how to run and promote an event, or by providing ‘hands on’ support during the event itself. The committee also has its own fund and the flexibility to make donations to various initiatives. In recent times it has donated to the installation of the WW1 silhouette statues in the memorial garden, the purchase of a new computer to administer those who attend the Park Run in Hinchingbrooke Park, a donation to Power2Inspire’s CEO who supported One JFC Day, and the running of the annual Christmas Friends and Associates lunch for the local care homes.
One of the main aims of the committee is to bring units together and better represent Wyton community as a whole. Being on such a diverse site means communication is one of the greatest challenges and in recent committee meetings it was recognised that very few people have any idea just how much work is done across the Station by you. Examples in recent history of the tremendous efforts that have taken place include: the fundraising for Alex Hill, a former member of
SAC Kieron Edwards receiving a Station Commander’s Commendation
42 Engr Regt who tragically suffered a stroke in 2008, where £10,500 was raised to fund new mobility and exercise equipment to aid his recovery; the weekly coffee and donuts session in Pathfinder building, where the 50p donations have seen annual contributions to the Station’s charity fund of over £1,000; a Station mufti day which, with every member of the station donating a pound to support, saw an instant £430 being raised; and a group of ambitious well-wishers who escorted Maj Chris Brannigan as he ran the Peterborough leg of his 700 mile barefooted run to raise funds for improved medical research into Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.
If you are planning on running a charity event, or would simply like to become involved in charity in general, then please reach out to the committee’s OIC Fg Off Lucy Gold-Lewis, or the committee’s secretary Cpl Liam Bromley who can help advertise your event. Donations to the Wyton Charities fund
are warmly received and help to fund local charity efforts, including the ones organised by people based at Wyton. Everyone should feel proud of their continued charity work. Whether it be doing something physically arduous, baking a cake and donating it for a cake sale, or waiting on the elderly during their Christmas lunch – Wyton’s unconditional support for those in need of help is still going strong.
Wyton Christmas Lunch 2019
Cpl Gallon receiving a Station Commander’s Commendation
8 eagleye