EMMA’S ULTRAMARATHON KICKS-OFF JET’S 2021 FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN!
On Sunday 18 April, our CEO Dr. Emma Egging powered through the finish line after completing a 33-mile ultramarathon along the Grantham Canal to mark JET’s 10th anniversary and launch our national #JET10 Virtual Relay campaign.
With over £14,000 raised in less than 48-hours, this first event is one of ten Emma is taking on this year from April to October. Her event line-up includes the Great North Run, the Virtual London Marathon, and our very own JETRide, now in its third year.
The aim of our 2021 #JET10 fundraising campaign is to shine a spotlight on JET’s vital work with vulnerable youngsters. With one event done, Emma is far from hanging up her trainers as she pushes on to complete all ten epic events and help us reach our 10th-anniversary fundraising target of £100,000.
Emma said: “It’s definitely the hardest run I’ve ever done, but it was also hugely rewarding - hearing news of donations coming in as I ran really kept me motivated.
“In the past decade, we’ve worked with over 30,000 young people across the UK. Young people are facing unprecedented challenges and uncertainty in the wake of Covid-19. Many of the students we work with have been affected emotionally and educationally.
“We’ve seen careers and further education dreams put on hold, exams cancelled, and anxiety for the future rise; we’re acutely aware of the mountain we have to climb to help youngsters recover from the impacts of the past year. At the Jon Egging Trust, we’re more determined than ever to expand our JET Blue Skies and youth programmes to support as many youngsters as we can to get back on track towards the futures they deserve.”
Emma’s ultramarathon began at Nottingham Forest’s City Ground Stadium, where the starting claxon was sounded by former Scottish football pro and Nottingham Forest ambassador John McGovern. She was then joined by ex-Red Arrows leader and JET supporter Sqn Ldr Martin Pert for the first 13 miles. Thereafter, she was partnered by ex-Battle of Britain Memorial Flight boss, Sqn Ldr Dunc Mason, and JET Patron, Air Vice-Marshal Harv Smyth who ran the final twelve miles to the finish in Grantham, Lincolnshire.
Ambitious fundraising year for JET.
The ultramarathon marks the start of an ambitious year of fundraising for JET. The #JET10 Virtual Relay is one of the biggest fundraising campaigns ever launched by JET – a national initiative in which teams of ten are invited to take cover 100km (10km each) in a way that is challenging for them, be it running, walking, hiking or even paddle–boarding.
The launch of the #JET10 fundraising campaign received welcome support from a range of businesses including a £5000 donation from Nottinghamshire-based law firm Potter Clarkson.
More information?
Head over to JET10.joneggingtrust.org.uk to learn more and find out how to sign up. Money raised by Emma’s challenges and the JET10 Virtual Relay will help to support JET’s ambition to reach out to one million youngsters by 2031.
To keep up to date on our 2021 fundraising activity follow us on social media and check out #JET10.
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Introducing JET Stream – our new podcast series.
Episode one: take a listen to our first ever podcast in which Dr. Emma Egging talks to Sqn Ldr Martin Pert about all things JET and the RAF Red Arrows. Recorded live during their 33-mile JET10 ultramarathon along the Grantham Canal in April 2021, Emma highlights the challenges faced by young people in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, and @PilotPerty opens up about school pressure, imposter syndrome and getting the RAF Red Arrows safely across the frozen Atlantic in 2019 en route to their celebrated North America tour.
Episode two: Dr.Emma Egging in conversation with JET Patron AVM Harv Smyth
In our latest JET Stream podcast which was recorded during April’s #ultramarathon charity fundraising event #JET10, Emma chatted to JET Patron @HarvSmyth about overcoming adversity and how taking half step outside of your comfort zone can set you on a road to success.
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