RAF Red Arrows raise money for children's wards

The RAF Red Arrows team has raised money for the children's wards at Lincoln County Hospital.

Pilots and support staff ran, swam, walked, rowed and cycled 8,000 miles (12,875 km), the distance to and from their home base of RAF Waddington to their pre-season training camps in Croatia and Greece.

At the end of the month-long deployment they had raised £460 for the Rainforest and Safari wards.

Lincolnshire Hospitals charity manager Ben Petts said he was delighted to receive the donation.

"The Red Arrows have generously supported us for several years and this latest donation brings the total amount raised to over £3,500," he said.

"We can use these funds to purchase extra pieces of equipment for the children's ward which will improve the lives of our young patients, their families and the staff who care for them."

Staff from the children's wards recently visited RAF Waddington to meet some of the team's engineers who completed the challenge and witness an aerobatic display.

One of the visitors play leader Karen O'Connor expressed her thanks to the crew.

"We are so grateful to the support from the Red Arrows team and the time they give to visit the ward and bring a little Christmas cheer to the children and families over the festive season," she said.

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