Wheely successfull JETRide!

posted on 25th September 2019

240 cyclists took part in JETRide on Sunday 22nd September raising funds to support the Jon Egging Trust (JET) by pedalling 50 and 80 mile routes around Lincolnshire.

Members of 39Sqn also took part in JETRide by taking on 80 miles and 4000ft of climb in Utah!

The new event is the brainchild of former Red Arrows and BBMF pilot, JET Trustee Duncan Mason, who wanted to help the charity raise funds for its programmes that help young people who are at risk of dropping out of education to develop vital work and life skills.

“The aim with JETRide was to not only put on a fantastic day of cycling, but to create an annual event to raise funds for the increasing demand for JET’s programmes. We have had many participants say this is the best sportive they have taken part in and the fundraising totals are still going up. So now we can make a start on making sure that next year the event is the best it can be.” – Sqn Ldr Mason said:

JET’s programmes started in Lincoln with a pilot programme of just 10 students in 1 school and last academic year worked with more than 10,000 students in 42 schools across the UK.

“I have seen the difference first-hand how JET’s programmes can make a difference, not just to individual students but to the school community as a whole. The programmes teach valuable life skills such as teamwork, which improve peer working and communication in school. In turn this helps reduce disruptive behaviour and exclusions.” – Headteacher, partner school

RAF College Cranwell provided the base for JETRide and the finish of both routes was a lap of the parade square taking in the iconic RAF Cranwell College Hall. A large team including volunteers from RAF Cranwell and Sleaford Air Cadets 2160 Sqn, kept things running smoothly. Many of the RAF Bases that partner with JET to deliver the youth engagement programmes attended including teams from local bases RAF College Cranwell and RAF Waddington.