Page 39 - Cadet Review Spring 2022

MIRFIELD AIR CADETS SUPPORT FOR CHARITIES
Especially through the Covid-19 pandemic, fund raising support for charities is important and, getting back to some sort of normality, the Autumn period was a busy time for members of 868 (Mirfield) Squadron, for supporting various local and national charities.
Starting in September, cadets and staff were involved in collections for the Royal Air Force Association Wings Appeal around Mirfield, operating out of a base set up by the entrance to the local Co-op. Efforts on the day manage to raise £364 for the appeal. Also added to this year’s collection was an additional £381, collected in the past year as there was no opportunity for street collections in 2020.
This was followed by a specially arranged coffee ‘morning’ during the regular evening meeting
on September 24th, as a fund-raising activity for MacMillan Cancer Support. An evening Coffee and Cake session formed a part of the evening’s activities and a wide variety of cakes were provided by staff, members of the Squadron Committee and the cadets themselves, all portioned and individually wrapped to comply with covid precautions.
Cadets and others took little persuasion to part with money in order to consume the cakes on display. In cake sales and an extensive raffle, a total of £215 was raised in donations for the charity.
Of course, November brought Remembrance Day, and collections for the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. This year the relaxation of covid constraints allowed cadets to be out around Mirfield, to help the local Royal British Legion branch in their efforts, and managed to raise £475 in their assigned collecting tins.
Finally, it is a tradition at the Squadron to have a fun themed fund-raising night to support Children
in Need, this year was no exception, with a variety of covid-compliant activities and after the usual canteen break, cadets parted with more money to participate in “sponge the NCOs” - cadet NCOs dressed down
to t-shirts and shorts for the privilege of having wet sponges thrown at them by cadets. They got very
Our efforts this year have certainly been successful with over £1600 pounds raised for some very good causes.
wet, but were soon brought back inside to dry off, change and have a hot drink! In all the evening raised £188 for the charity.
The Squadron Commander, Flight Lieutenant Peter Doubell said “we do encourage our cadets to support worthy causes, and our Squadron based activities are always arranged around something of a fun nature - they always seem to involve food in some way! This does seem to motivate the cadets and results in a good evening, which is beneficial to the various charities. Our efforts this year have certainly been successful with over £1600 pounds raised for some very good causes.”
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