About

To mark the 80th anniversary of the Dambusters Raid, a small group of two cyclist and one support member, are going to be riding to the Dams via the crash sites and the graves of the airmen who paid the ultimate sacrifice on the Raid. We would like fundraising to COMMEMORATE the sacrifices of our forebears, SUPPORT the Royal Air Force family of today, and INSPIRE the next generation. Therefore, we wish to raise sponsorship for a number of charities including the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.

In 2021, one of our team members marked the 100th birthday of the then last surviving Dambuster, Squadron Leader George ‘Johnny’ Johnson, by riding over 5600 miles to raise funds for the RAF Benevolent Fund.  The challenge concluded with the ride from the International Bomber Command Centre to the Bomber Command Memorial in London and then onto the Commonwealth War Grave Commission’s Air Forces Memorial near Runnymede.

This year we plan to ride to the dams after the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Heritage Ride out of Woodhall Spa on the 13th May 2023.  The plan is to cross to the Netherlands on the overnight Ferry after the Heritage Ride, then ride over 600 miles in 7 days visiting the crash sites, the graves, and the dams.   The event will link the RAF Benevolent Fund’s Heritage Ride with their Virtual Ride fundraiser and the 617 Squadron Association’s Dambusters Dinner the following weekend.  Fittingly, the route will visit the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s  Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, where the majority of 617 Squadron’s casualties from the raid are buried on the 80th Anniversary of their sacrifice.

The RAF Benevolent Fund is the RAF's leading welfare charity and has been there, through thick and thin, for the RAF for more than 100 years. It's a cause that's close to my heart and with your support the RAF Benevolent Fund can continue to be there for veterans, serving personnel and their families.