IN PICTURES: Armed Forces raise money for Children in Need
23 Nov 09
Members of the Armed Forces and civilians working with them carried out various fundraising activities right across the UK to support this year's Children in Need event which took place on Friday 20 November 2009.
Pudsey Bear visits RAF Wittering to raise money for Children in Need
[Picture: Senior Aircraftwoman Step, Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Fundraising events took place at Royal Navy bases, Army barracks and RAF stations. Here are just a few of them.
Workers arriving at RAF Shawbury on Friday morning were greeted by three superheroes with buckets for donations and staff and students from the Trade Training Flight at the Central Air Traffic Control School took part in a range of events including a film night, auction of slaves, cake sale and raffle.
Elsewhere, servicemen and women at RAF Cranwell swapped their light blue uniforms for dressing gowns and pyjamas to raise money for Children in Need. Leading Aircraftwoman Lizzie Driver, Flight Sergeant Stuart Coppard and Senior Aircraftwoman Sarah Partridge were among personnel from the Special Police Wing and the Personnel Services Flight who put on fancy dress and roamed the station collecting donations in aid of the BBC's annual fundraiser.
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In Nottingham, Waterbeach Village Green was transformed into an outdoor dance studio when 150 soldiers from 25 Engineer Regiment took part in an hour-long sponsored aerobics class, cheered on by the local village community.
Sailors at HMS Collingwood in Fareham had the unique opportunity to soak staff from Phase 2 Training for a small donation and had the choice of a sponge to throw or a bucket of cold water.
Personnel from the Transport and Movements Flight at RAF Leeming were met by a queue of vehicles as the North Yorkshire station held its charity car wash, inviting all station personnel, dependants and visitors to donate generously in order to receive a range of services from a basic wash to full valet treatment.
Leading Hand Andrew Campbell (the croc in the stocks) was one of the brave volunteers at HMS Collingwood in Fareham during the Phase 2 Training staff's Soak-a-Sailor for Children in Need where a small donation enabled participants to throw a sponge or a bucket of cold water
[Picture: Crown Copyright/MOD 2009]
Corporal Kris Sumner, who organised the RAF Leeming event, said:
"It's a great cause that the whole of the unit is keen to support, and the weather is on our side today."
At Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, 815 Naval Air Squadron got on their bikes for a 24-hour cyclethon in aid of Children in Need and squadron members cycled through the night to raise money for the cause.
Commander Nigel Amphlett RN, Lynx Force Commander, was first on the bike and began the challenge at 1200hrs on Thursday 19 November 2009 with squadron members lined up to take over, an hour at a time, until 1200hrs the next day.
Cdr Amphlett said:
"We wanted to get involved and do something different that would fit around the working routines of the squadron. This is quite a challenge and we're looking forward to raising a lot of money."
The Fire Section at RAF Marham took donations at the main gate and washed cars during the whole week from Monday 16 November until the Friday.
The Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose branch of the Royal Navy Motor Cycle Club was given permission to conduct their annual 'runway dash' down the main runway at the station. The stunt attracted attention from a passing Merlin helicopter which added an aviation flavour.
And, a bumper auction was held on Friday 20 November 2009 by members of the Logistic Support Squadron from RAF Kinloss in support of the BBC's Children in Need campaign.