In June, nearly 2,000 cyclists came together to support the RAF community at the RAF Association’s annual global cycling event, RAFA Rides.
A record 1,900 cyclists took part in the Association’s RAFA Rides season this year. Rides took place at Kendrew Barracks, formerly RAF Cottesmore, RAF Marham, RAF Brize Norton and RAF Leeming.
Participants were also able to take part virtually through RAFA Rides Your Way. Hundreds of people from all over the world, from Canada to Australia and Al Udeid in Qatar, joined the thousands of cyclists tackling the routes at the RAFA Rides events.
The Association’s Deputy CEO, Rachel Huxford, said:
“What I love about RAFA Rides is seeing how it brings people together – people who may not have seen each other for the rest of the year – to cycle together and challenge themselves. Every year we see people meeting old friends and making new ones, all the while supporting our vital work to support the RAF community.”
Stephen Poulton, a 77-year-old RAF veteran who took part in the Brize Norton event, said:
“During my time in the RAF, I was stationed at RAF Brize Norton for two years, so taking part in the RAFA Rides event there felt natural to me. It was a chance to challenge my fitness and support an organisation I’m familiar with. It was a very enjoyable event.”
Since the first event in 2018, RAFA Rides has been the pinnacle of the military charity cycling events calendar, connecting RAF personnel and supporters from around the world with one ambition: to support the RAF community.