On 14 November, five RAF Northolt personnel took on The Gherkin challenge, climbing 38 floors, up to 147 times to raise money for the RAF’s leading welfare charity, the RAF Benevolent Fund.
The challenge consisted of climbing the 38 floors – 180 metres and more than 1,000 steps – achieving 147 ascents collectively. For the climb, the team ran up the fire escape stairs and came down the service elevator repeatedly from 8am to 8pm.
The Gherkin, formally 30 St Mary Axe and previously known as the Swiss Re Building, is a commercial skyscraper in London’s primary financial district in the City of London.
An unmistakable icon in London’s skyline, the Gherkin building’s informal name comes from its ovular, elongated egg shape which resembles a gherkin.
The Gherkin is 591 feet high and 41 stories tall, with numerous office spaces, a bar for tenants, and a restaurant and observation deck located on the top floors of the structure.
Air Specialist (Class 1) Connor Jones took part in the event alongside four of his colleagues from RAF Northolt.
Connor, 29, has served in the RAF as an Air Cartographer for four years. He said:
“This challenge was established by Corporal Perry Wright last year and is my second time taking part. It’s quite demanding mentally to be running up 38 floors of a concrete staircase repeatedly. But we’re all competitive and wanted to take part in a unique challenge.”
Connor continued:
“Taking part in a challenge like this, you build a good connection with everyone taking part and bring people together in solidarity of being in the military. I was looking forward to coming back into work and talking about it and having that sense of accomplishment.
“The RAF Benevolent Fund is a charity that is hugely important to us because of the work they do to support fellow serving personnel and veterans. It is good to know that help is there for us, should we ever need it. It feels right to support the Fund in their 105th year of supporting the RAF Family. Last year we raised over £2300 and hope to reach our goal of £2000 this year.”
You can donate to support the team on JustGiving.
The RAF Benevolent Fund provides financial, emotional, and practical assistance to serving and retired RAF personnel and their families. This includes grants to help with financial difficulty, mental health support, Airplay youth clubs, and more.
